GAFFNEY, S.C.— The Queens University of Charlotte women's lacrosse team dropped their season opener in an away game against Limestone College this afternoon at Saints Field in Gaffney, S.C. The Saints defeated the Royals 17-5 in a non-conference contest. Limestone, ranked fourth in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association preseason NCAA Division II poll, stands at 1-0 on the season as the Royals begin their season with a 0-1 record.
Freshman Caitlin Miller (Ocean View, Del., Worcester Prep) scored the first goal for the Royals with 20:58 on the clock after Limestone had found the back of the net four times. Her goal was the only of the half as Queens went in to the locker room down 11-1 after a hot offense by the Saints. Limestone shot 20 shots in the half compared to Queens' five.
Kelley Duffey (New Hope, Minn. , Robinsdale Cooper ) fired the ball into the net on a free position shot after being fouled for the Royals' first goal of the second half putting the score at 12-2. Brittany Philip (Corning, N.Y., Corning East) followed with a goal of her own at the 10:35 mark. The Royals scored their last two goals in the final five minutes of play, one by Brittany Barnwell (Lorton, Va., Bishop Ireton) and another by Duffey.
Queens was more aggressive in the shot category with the Saints in the second half firing off 14 shots to Limestone's 12. After a 10-3 draw control ratio in the first half, the Royals became more evenly matched in the second half with five draw controls to Limestone's six.
Duffey led her team offensively with two goals off of five shots. Taylor Kuhn (Columbus, Ohio, Olentangy ), Brittany Philip (Corning, N.Y., Corning East), and Shannon Casey (Bel Air, Md., John Carroll) each had two ground balls. Rebecca Markle (Hampstead, Md., North Carroll ) defended the net the entire 60 minutes of play and recorded 9 saves.
Limestone was led by Renee Albro (Purcellville, Va.) and Katie Ilott (Brooklin, Ontario, Canada), who each scored five goals. Ilott was 3-3 on her free-position attempts. Jessica Williams (Farmingdale, N.Y.) tallied a hat trick as Kelly Oterson (Islip Terrace, N.Y.), Chelsea Caiazza (Lindenhurst, N.Y.), Kristen Demarzi (Huntington, N.Y.), and Raquel Prager (Seaford, N.Y.) also scored. Britt Howard (Oswego, N.Y.), Oterson, and Casey Wilcox (Liverpool, N.Y.) had assists.
Limestone goalkeeper Brigid Milchling (Cockeysville, Md.) had 10 saves in the first 50 minutes for the Saints while Rashelle McLellan (East Lyme, Conn.) posted two saves in the final 10 minutes.
The Royals are back in action in an away game against Pfeiffer University on Saturday, February 20 at 11:00 a.m.
