Box Score CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Royals played host to 12^th nationally ranked Gannon University this evening at the Queens Sports Complex falling 18-12 to the Golden Knights. Queens University of Charlotte now sits even at 2-2 on the season, while Gannon opens their season at 1-0.

The Royals competed well with the nationally ranked Golden Knights collecting 27 ground balls to Gannon's 22, while also winning the battle for draw controls 23-9. Gannon edged Queens in shots 36-34.

Jessica Rooney (Orlando, Fla., Timber Creek) and Brittany Philip (Corning, N.Y., Corning East) got the Royals started with back-to-back goals to put the home team ahead, 2-0. The Golden Knights soon responded with three goals to take a 3-2 lead at the 12:47 mark. Over two minutes would pass before the Royals found the back of the net again when Shannon Casey (Bel Air, Md., John Carroll) found a cutting Philip who scored, and 10-seconds later Brittany Barnwell (Lorton, Va., Bishop Ireton) followed suit firing a ball into the back of the net after possessing the draw. Gannon would close the half on a 4-1 run giving the game a 7-5 score at the break.

After Caitlyn Fisher put the Golden Knights up 8-5 a little over three minutes into the second, the Royals reeled off three goals in a row knotting things up at 8-8. Two of the goals came on unassisted shots from Barnwell, while one came from Rooney.  A yellow card would force the Royals to play a man down as Gannon netted a point with 22:17 on the clock. Rachel DerCola then scored again for the visiting team putting them up 10-8.

Barnwell would bring the Royals back to within one with a free-position-shot at 19:32, however, the Golden Knights closed the game with an 8-3 run to take the win.

Barnwell finished with seven points on six goals and one assists to lead Queens. Casey and Philip notched three points each, while Rooney collected two. Philip also recorded eight draw controls and seven groundballs, while Barnwell possessed seven draws.

Jess Fugate led the Golden Knights with 10 points on six goals and four feeds. DerCola totaled six points and Fisher finished with five.

Chelsea Lancashire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Nease) takes the loss in goal after getting 13 stops, while Margaret Maslyn took the win after totaling 10 saves.

Queens is back at home on Thursday against Rollins College at 7 p.m.