CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The Queens University of Charlotte women's lacrosse team went on a four-to-zero scoring run in the final seven minutes of play against Mercyhurst College this morning in their home opener at the Queens Sports Complex. The late surge by the Royals was not enough to get the win as they fell 21-10 to the fifth team in the nation, Mercyhurst. With the loss Queens falls to 1-3 on the season (1-0 CC), while Mercyhurst remains undefeated at 2-0.
The final four goals for Queens were scored by four different players. Shannon Casey (Bel Air, Md., John Carroll) led the surge scoring with 6:26 left on the clock after a turnover caused by Kelly Walsh (Pawley's Island, S.C., Waccamaw). Next Brittany Barnwell (Lorton, Va., Bishop Ireton) found the back of the net after cutting up the middle and getting a feed from Alison Doron ( Zionsville, Ind., Zionsville ). With 3:44 on the clock, goalie Rebecca Markle (Hampstead, Md., North Carroll ) intercepted a pass which lead into a goal scored by Kelley Duffey (New Hope, Minn. , Robinsdale Cooper ). She was assisted by Casey on the play. The final goal of the game was fired in by Kristi Kemp (Lake Mary, Fla., Winter Springs) off of a pass from Paige Fisher (Schwenksville, Pa., Perkiomen Valley).
The Lakers of Mercyhurst College came out the gate with all the momentum in the first minutes of play going on a 12-0 run. Queens got on the board for the first time with back-to-back free position shots scored by Barnwell with 9:12 and 7:15 on the clock. Brittany Philip (Corning, N.Y., Corning East) would score next with another FPS to put the Royals within ten points, 13-3. Mercyhurst had one more run in them ending the half 15-3. The Royals scored 3-7 free position shots in the game.
The second half of play was more evenly matched in the scoring category as the Royals netted seven goals to Mercyhurst's six. Queens won nine of 14 draw controls which was an improvement from the 13-5 ratio in Mercyhurst's favor in the first half.
Barnwell led the Royals with four goals, giving her 13 for the season, and she was a perfect 2-2 in free position shots. She also scooped up three ground balls. Philip and Casey each chipped in two goals apiece. On the defensive end, Fisher and Kemp each had two caused turnovers. Fisher also tallied four ground balls this morning.
Kimberly Masterson and Kelly Palmer of the Lakers led all scorers in the game with six goals. Ally Keirn and Kristi Jennings each netted two goals and ahd two assists. Masterson cleaned up the stat sheet for Mercyhurst recording one assist, causing three turnovers, and collecting four ground balls.
The Royals are back in action at home against Regis College on March 5th at 5:00 p.m.
