Charlotte, N.C.- Dowling College snuck out of the Queens Sports Complex with a win over the Queens University of Charlotte women's lacrosse team this evening. Queens fell to the Golden Lions by a final score of 13-10. The Royals led against eighth-ranked Dowling up until the 12 minute mark in the second half. With the loss Queens falls to 3-7 on the year, while Dowling improves to 4-1.
Queens entered this evening's game with a team short on subs due to injuries, but the Royals were ready to give the eighth-ranked Golden Lions a run for their money. Caitlin O'Rourke ( Winter Springs, Fla., Winter Springs ) was the first Royal to strike scoring the first goal of the game with 25:16 on the clock. Brittany Philip (Corning, N.Y., Corning East) connected on the next goal of the game giving the Royals a 2-0 lead. Cassandra Cronin of Dowling was first to put the visiting team on the board. Kelley Duffey (New Hope, Minn. , Robinsdale Cooper ), the national leader in assists, assisted the next three goals of the half for Queens giving them a 5-3 halftime lead.
Brittany Barnwell (Lorton, Va., Bishop Ireton), who leads the Royals in goals this season, received two yellow cards in the first half placing her on the side line for the remainder of the game.
Queens held on to the lead in the second half keeping a one or two goal margin between them and the vistors. The two teams opened the half trading goals for the first seven minutes. Then Queens went on a three-to-zero run opening the gap to four goals, 9-5. Duffey assisted her teammates on the first two and scored the third unassisted. Dowling followed the Royals run with one of their own bringing Queens to within one, 9-8. O'Rourke broke up the run with a free-position-shot at 13:08 giving the Royals a two-point lead, 10-8. Her goal was the last of the game for Queens.
Kristi Kemp (Lake Mary, Fla., Winter Springs) went out of the game with an injury soon after Dowling tied the game up at ten with 12:11 on the clock. After about six minutes, Dowling's Anabel Lopez put the Golden Lions up by one, 11-10. The Golden Bulls scored two more goals in a stall offense to end the game.
O'Rourke led the Royals attack with four goals while Philip chipped in three. Duffey recorded one goal and five assists to continue leading the nation in assists. Caitlin Miller (Ocean View, Del., Worcester Prep) and Kemp each netted one goal. Caitlin Flanagan (West Islip, N.Y., West Islip) led the Royals defense with seven ground balls and two caused turnovers. Allie Rhodes (Davidsonville, Md., South River) and goal keeper Rebecca Markle (Hampstead, Md., North Carroll ) had two caused turnovers as well. Markle ended the game with 15 saves. She is currently ranked fourth in the nation in saves.
Cassandra Cronin led the Golden Lions with six goals and Brianna Falese tallied two. Stephanie Cotter recorded seven ground balls.
The Royals are back in action in an away game at St. Andrews Presbyterian College on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
