Box Score CHARLOTTE, N.C. – After having two weeks off, the Queens University of Charlotte men's lacrosse team defeated Belmont Abbey College (1-3) at Dickson Field today defeating the Crusaders 14-9 to pick up their first win of the season. The Royals improve to 1-2 on the season.
 
The Royals got going with a goal knocked into the net by Belmont Abbey's keeper, Brett Lawless, at 8:40. Queens attacker Evan Farkas was credited with the score. The Crusaders would quickly tie the game up with a goal from Connor Sellars, but a late goal from Matthew Michael with 17 ticks on the clock sent the Royals into the second period with a 2-1 edge.
 
Queens carried that momentum in the second where Justin Kestler opened with back-to-back goals to put the Royals ahead, 4-1. Garrett Chan assisted on both scores. The Crusaders would match Kestler's two goals to trail by one, 4-3, with 2:44 to play, but once again Queens found a late goal with a score from Casey Hock with six seconds before the half. They headed into the break leading Belmont Abbey 5-3.
 
It would be the third quarter where the Royals took over, outscoring the Crusaders 6-3. Following a goal from Belmont Abbey, the Royals fired three consecutive balls into the net for a 7-4 advantage with 10:25 on the clock. Riley Quinlan of the Crusaders would stop Queens' run with a goal at 7:54, but the Royals closed the period with a 3-1 spurt commanding an 11-6 lead heading into the final 15 minutes.
 
Scotty Steele of the Crusaders tried to get his team going with a goal 52 seconds into play, but three goals in a row from Queens sealed the deal as the Royals held a 14-7 lead with 8:46 left in regulation. The Crusaders would find two more goals before the final horn sounded.
 
The Royals outshot Belmont Abbey 43-32 and won the battle for ground balls, 37-31. Queens also won 15-of-27 face-offs with Kenneth Stryker winning 14 of the 26 that he took.
 
Leading Queens' offense today was Kestler and Hock, who each recorded hat tricks. Kestler also notched an assist to record four points along with Garrett Chan who tallied three assists and one goal. Michael finished the game with two assists and one goal. Eric Dolan earned the win in goal after collecting 10 saves and 6 ground balls. Defender Patrick Murphy completed the game with five ground balls.
 
Sellars led the Crusaders with three goals and one assist, while Steele and Quinlin added two goals apiece. Steele also totaled six ground balls and three caused turnovers. Lawless took the loss in goal after totaling nine saves in 51:14.
 
The Royals are back in action on Saturday when they host Florida Tech at 2 p.m.