Box Score CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The No. 13 Queens University of Charlotte women's lacrosse team played host to No. 5 Florida Southern this evening at Dickson Field, falling 12-11 to the Mocs on Senior Night. The Royals' season record now sits at 8-4 after picking up the non-conference loss, while Florida Southern improves to 10-1 on the season.
 
After allowing the Mocs to jump out to a 4-1 lead in less than 10 minutes of action, the Royals put together a 4-1 push to tie the game, 5-5, with 13:36 on the clock. A goal at 12:08 would give the Mocs a 6-5 lead, but Queens responded with three straight to take an 8-6 advantage with just under 10 minutes left in the opening half. Fouls in the final 2:50 allowed the Mocs' Lorianne Hoover to capitalize on free-position-shots and tie the game at 8-8 before the break.
 
Freshman midfielder Kelly Dowd led the Royals in the half with three goals on the offensive end, while senior midfielder Brittany Barnwell totaled four caused turnovers on the defensive end.
 
Goals didn't come as easy for either team in the second half of play as the first point of the half didn't come until the 22:51 mark. It would be a goal from Florida Southern's Hoover once again giving her team a 9-8 lead. Queens wouldn't find an answer until 16:13 when Abigail Paulus found the back of the net for her third goal of the game to knot things at 9-9. A little over five minutes would pass before the Mocs scored three straight goals to take a 12-9 lead with 7:59 to play in regulation.
 
The Royals turned up their defensive pressure forcing a number of turnovers that led to a foul inside the 8 meter. Junior attacker Jena Ready stepped up to take the free-position shot at 6:52, scoring to cut Florida Southern's lead to two, 12-10.
 
Queens' kept up the defensive pressure in the closing minutes, but had trouble finding the back of the net. Their final goal would come from Ready on a free-position-shot with one second on the clock.
 
Queens outshot Florida Southern 28-23, but was edged in ground balls, 19-18. The Mocs also won the battle for draw controls 13-11.
 
Dowd, Paulus and Ready each recorded hat tricks in tonight's game. Arika Zimmerman totaled one goal, one assist and two draw controls. Barnwell finished the game with five caused turnovers and two ground balls. In goal, Danielle Horoschak totaled five saves.
 
Hoover finished the game with six goals to lead the Mocs, while Megan Asper added three goals and an assist. Katie Hammerer recorded seven saves in goal.
 
Queens' seniors, Barnwell, Zimmerman and Akasha Kasper were recognized before the start of the game for their careers as Royals.
 
The Royals are back at home on April 3 against Newberry College. The game will begin at 7 p.m.