BANNER ELK, N.C.— The Queens University of Charlotte women's lacrosse team traveled to Banner Elk, N.C. this afternoon to face the Bobcats of Lees-McRae College in a make-up game rescheduled due to inclement weather. The Royals left with a convincing win defeating Lees-McRae 22-8 improving their conference record to 4-2 (6-9 overall). The Bobcats fall to 1-5 in the conference and 1-10 overall.
The Royals offense was too hot for the Bobcats to handle as they outscored the home team 15-4 in the first half of play. Lees-McRae brought the Royals within two after Abby White connected on a free-position-shot, but Queens turned up the heat going on a six-to-zero run, 10-2. Caitlin O'Rourke ( Winter Springs, Fla., Winter Springs ) sparked the Royals run scoring the first two goals while Enna Saffos (Centerville, Md., Queen Anne) scored the last two.
Queens continued their attack in the second half not giving the Bobcats a chance to get back in the game. Lees-McRae couldn't get in to an offensive rhythm as the Royals defense forced them to commit 18 turnovers in the game. Another six-to-zero run by Queens sealed the win for the visiting team. Kelley Duffey (New Hope, Minn. , Robinsdale Cooper ) and Brittany Philip (Corning, N.Y., Corning East) scored two of their game high five goals apiece during the run.
The Royals outshot the Bobcats 36-19 and won 16 of the 29 draw controls in the game.
Philip led all players with eight draw controls. She also had five goals, two assists, and three ground balls. Duffey netted five goals, tallied four assists, and scooped up four ground balls. O'Rourke found the back of the net four times and recorded one assist. Saffos, Shannon Casey (Bel Air, Md., John Carroll), and Kristi Kemp (Lake Mary, Fla., Winter Springs) each chipped in two goals while Alison Doron ( Zionsville, Ind., Zionsville ) and Kelly Walsh (Pawley's Island, S.C., Waccamaw) scored one apiece. Walsh also assisted on three goals.
Goalkeeper Chelsea Lancashire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Nease) spent the entire 60 minutes in the cage collecting eight saves. Martha Peacock defended the goal for Lees-McRae tallying six saves.
The Bobcats were led by White who recorded a hat trick in the stat book today. Ellie Psillas netted two goals with her one assist. Clair Shaw, Lauren Martin, and Lexi King rounded out the home team's scoring with one goal apiece.
Queens will celebrate Senior Day during halftime of their final regular season game against Pfeiffer University on Saturday morning at 11:00 at the Queens Sports Complex.
