Box Score CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Royals returned home to Dickson Field today to play host to Belmont Abbey College, defeating the Crusaders 14-9 to improve their record to 8-3 on the year. The Crusaders fall to 6-3 on the season with the non-conference loss.
 
Leading Queens University of Charlotte's attack was junior Jena Ready who put five in the back of the net. Sophomore attacker Maggie Masters also tallied five points with two goals and three assists. Brittany Larranaga and Abigail Paulus notched two goals apiece. Senior midfielder Brittany Barnwell led the Royals in draw controls with five, while sophomore defender Bridgette Larranaga led in ground balls with six. Barnwell and Larranaga also led in caused turnovers with four and three, respectively. Goalkeeper Danielle Horoschak took the win in goal after totaling three saves.
 
Brittany Larranaga got the Royals going with two goals early in the game to give Queens a 2-0 lead. A goal from Belmont Abbey's Kassie Easter would come next to break up Queens' 5-1 run in the opening 10 minutes of action. Later in the half, the Royals would put together another 3-0 spurt to head into the locker room leading the Crusaders 8-4 at the break.
 
Queens opened the second half with three straight once again, giving the home team an 11-4 advantage with 22:30 left in regulation. The Crusaders responded with a two-goal push to get within five of Queens, but a draw control won by Barnwell quickly led to a goal Ready scored goal increasing the Royals' lead back out to six.
 
The two teams would trade goals for the remainder of play, which only worked in Queens' favor has they were able to hold out for the five-goal win.
 
Queens outshot Belmont Abbey 36-16 and their stifling defense forced 32 turnovers from the Crusaders. The Royals also won the battle for ground balls, 29-20, but lost the battle for draw controls, 15-10.
 
Katie Connery and MacKenzie Miller each recorded hat tricks for the Crusaders, while Shannin Darley notched four points on two goals and two assists. Reilly Johnson took the loss in net after recording five saves. Natasha Whitman also saw time in the net tallying six saves.
 
Queens is back at home on Friday for Senior Night. They will welcome the No. 5 Florida Southern College Mocs for a 6 p.m. draw.