CHARLOTTE, N.C.— Caitlin O'Rourke ( Winter Springs, Fla., Winter Springs ) found the back of the net with 7:56 on the clock to score the game winning goal off of a feed from Kelley Duffey (New Hope, Minn. , Robinsdale Cooper ) to lead the Royals of Queens University of Charlotte past Pfeiffer University, 13-12. This was the second time that the women's lacrosse team met up with the Falcons and the Royals were determined to come out with a win on what was also Senior Day. Unlike the first game, today's event counted towards Conference Carolinas action improving the Royals record to 5-2 (7-9 overall) heading in to the Conference Carolinas Tournament. The Falcons fall to 5-2 (11-6 overall) with the loss.
Duffey led all players today in points with eight. She netted four goals for the Royals, all in the first half, and dished out four assists, all in the second half. After trading goals in the first seven minutes of play, Duffey took over putting the Royals up by two scoring three consecutive goals for the home team, 4-2. Pfeiffer kept close throughout the half keeping Queens within reach. Heidi Karaszkiewicz and Jessica Moulton scored two quick goals for the Falcons tying the game up at 5-5 with just under eight minutes on the clock. Queens stayed aggressive on the offensive end regaining the lead before the half, 8-6.
Queens opened up the second half of play with a goal by O'Rourke assisted by Duffey. O'Rourke's goal gave the Royals their biggest lead of the game at 9-6. Pfeiffer answered back with two goals to bring Queens back to within one. Over the next four minutes of play Pfeiffer scored three goals to Queens' one to regain the lead for the second time in the game, 11-10. Queens held strong on the defensive end stopping the Falcons run. Duffey found Shannon Casey (Bel Air, Md., John Carroll) cutting to the goal to tie the game up for the fifth time at 11-11. Kennedy put the Falcons back up by one with a little over 13 minutes on the clock, but O'Rourke's ability to score today proved strong as she netted the final two goals of the game to lift Queens past Pfeiffer.
O'Rourke led all players today with five goals. She also had three ground balls. Brittany Philip (Corning, N.Y., Corning East) had two goals, one assist, five ground balls, and three draw controls. Rebecca Markle (Hampstead, Md., North Carroll ) tallied 12 saves for the win in goal.
Kennedy led the Falcons with five goals, five draw controls, and two ground balls. Karaszkiewicz recorded a hat trick. Sarah Hebberd, Tory Binder, Allie Gamble, and Moulton rounded out Pfeiffer's scoring with one goal apiece. Goalkeeper Caitlin Ryan recorded 12 saves.
Queens celebrated their three seniors at the half for their careers as Royals. Kelley Duffey, Catherine Szabo (Alpharetta, Ga. , Centennial ), and Rebecca Markle are the first class in Queens' women's lacrosse history to come in together as freshman and stay all four years.
Today's win clinches a spot in the Conference Carolinas Tournament for the Royals. Queens University of Charlotte is hosting the two day tournament on April 24th and 25th. More information on the tournament seeds will be posted when made available.
