Box Score HICKORY, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's lacrosse team (4-5) suffered its first South Atlantic Conference loss of the season to Lenoir-Rhyne University (5-3) this afternoon. The loss to the Bears is the first ever in men's lacrosse history and it brings the Royals' SAC record to 3-1. The Bears are now 4-1 in the league.
Trailing 6-2 at the half, Queens would make a comeback in the third and fourth quarter outscoring the Bears 7-3 in the second half.
Evan Farkas got the Royals going with a goal at 11:52 in the third, and following an LR score at 9:58 two more Queens goals would cut the home team's lead to just two with 6:21 to play. However, the Bears would increase their lead to three, 8-5, before the end of the period with a goal from Jon Hanlon at 2:55.
A quick goal 13 seconds into play in the fourth from LR would put the Bears ahead four goals, 9-5, but back-to-back goals from
Justin Kestler and
Spencer Corkery of Queens helped the Royals pull back within two by the 6:09 mark. At 2:57, Hanlon showed up once more putting the Bears back up 10-7 making it seem that all the time was LR's side.
But the Royals weren't going to go down easily.
Garrett Chan and
Casey Hock teamed up for a goal like they have so many other times this season to bring Queens within two, 10-8, of LR with 25 seconds on the clock. The Royals then were able to gain the very next possession thanks to
Jonathan Paige winning the faceoff, and Farkas found an open
Kenneth Stryker who zipped the ball into the back of the net to give the game a 10-9 score with 10 seconds to play. Looking to tie the game and head into overtime, Paige would win another faceoff allowing Kestler to collect a ground ball and race up the field. Unfortunately, Kestler's game-tying shot would be turned away by LR's Alex Squires as the horn sounded.
Farkas, Hock and Kestler each led the Royals with two goals and two assists today. Paige dominated at the faceoff winning 14-of-23. He also totaled nine ground balls to lead all on the field.
Eric Dolan took the loss in goal after recording 11 saves.
Hanlon led the Bears' offense with a hat trick. Squires totaled nine saves in the win.
The Royals will be on the road at Lincoln Memorial University on Saturday. Game time is set for 3 p.m.
