SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's lacrosse team picked up its fifth consecutive win this evening defeating the St. Leo University Lions 11-7. The Royals will return to the Queen City tied in first place in the region with a record of 5-1 (2-0 CC). The Lions fall to 4-3 on the season.
Travis Speer (Newtown, Conn., Newtown) got the Royals rolling scoring the first goal of the game assisted by Alex Wesenberg (Bloominton, Minn., Jefferson) at the 12:38 mark. His goal was quickly followed by one from Corey Geroy (Horseheads, N.Y., Horseheads), who finished the game with a hat trick, putting Queens ahead 2-0. Chad Love of St. Leo squeezed a goal in for the home team just before the Royals closed the period with three more ending the first quarter up 5-1.
Queens outshot the Lions 16-4 in the first period of play.
In the second period the Lions outscored Queens 4-2 pulling to within two points of the Royals. Both of Queens' points came from unassisted goals scored by Wesenberg and B.J. Leighton (Apex, NC, Apex).
T.C. Whaley (Carlsbad, Calif., La Costa Canyon) sparked the Royals offense in the third quarter scoring back-to-back goals putting Queens back ahead by four, 9-5. Matthew Michael (Easton, Pa., Easton) notched his third assists of the game on Whaley's first goal of the period. The Royals defense held the Lions scoreless for the entire quarter until Matt Obermeyer found a cutting Ryan Burke who scored a goal with 52-seconds left.
Queens' defense continued putting on the pressure in the fourth holding the Lions scoreless once again until the final minute of play. At that time the Royals had already tallied two more goals to its total giving the game a final score of 11-7.
The Royals outshot the Lions 38-to-36 while collecting 34 ground balls to St. Leo's 30. Queens also won 13 of the 21 face-offs to control the game.
In addition to Geroy recording a hat trick, Speer and Whaley each scored two goals this evening. Michael led all players with four assists, while Joe Taylor (Aurburn, N.Y., Auburn) led all with 11 ground balls. Brandon Macknew (Abington, Md., Bel Air) was awarded the win in goal after making 11 saves.
Connor McBride led the Lions with two goals while Dustin Goss led his team in assists with two. Patrick Berry picked up the loss in goal after tallying 14 saves.
The Royals have a few days off before returning to the field to host Wingate University on March 23rd at 4 pm.
