HARTSVILLE, S.C. - Queens University of Charlotte fell to Coker College this afternoon giving them their first conference loss of the season. The Royals lost 3-2 in a battle to the end with the Cobras. Queens is ranked 10th in the Southeast Region while Coker is fifth. The Royals record is now 3-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play while Coker improves to 4-1-1 overall (2-0-1 CC).

It was a hard fought; back and forth match for the very beginning. With the first period winding down, Queens was first to strike with a goal by Jon Rektorli (Inverness, Ill., Barrington) in the 42nd minute. Rektorili had a diving header find the back of the net off a free kick from Julian Mitchell (Jacksonville, Fla., Wolson). 

The Royals' lead did not stand long as Eric Stiefield (Eustis, Fla.) of the Cobras scored just 59 seconds later off a rebound from an Alex Bracken (Leeds, England) shot. 

With the score tied at 1-1 entering the second half, both teams applied heavy offensive pressure, but it was Coker that found a way through the defense first. Stephen Scrivens (Tampa, Fla.) scored his first collegiate goal in the 61st minute with an assist from Tyler Senecal (Mt. Pleasant, N.C.) to give the Cobras the 2-1 advantage.

Queens was not ready to throw in the towel yet, and four minutes later James Alexander (Charlotte, N.C., Olympic) got a shot past Coker keeper James Sweeney (Huntingtown, Md.) to tie the game at two.

Both teams continued to try and find a way to take the lead, but it was Atticus Lum(Advance, N.C.)  that got the game winner for Coker in the end.

The Royals travel to North Georgia College and State University on Wednesday, September 22 at 5:00 p.m.