TAMPA, Fla. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's lacrosse team opened their season this afternoon at the University of Tampa. The Royals fell 14-9 to the Spartans, who are ranked fourth in the nation. Tampa moves to 2-0 on the year, while Queens gets off to a 0-1 start.
 
Both Duncan Smith and Garrett Sadler led the Royals with three points each. Both players recorded two goals and one assist each. Justin Swick and Griffin Stechmiller each added a goal and an assist, while Jesse Oliver totaled two assists. Stechmiller also recorded five ground balls.
 
The Spartans got off to a hot start scoring three unanswered goals in the first quarter before Queens' Sadler put the Royals on the board at 4:53. Duncan Smith then brought Queens to within one, 3-2, with the first goal in the second quarter at 13:41. However, Tampa's Andrew Kew caught fire soon after, finding the back of the net three consecutive times to extend the Spartans' lead to four, 6-2, with 8:06 to play in the half. The Royals answered when Smith and Reed Murphy found back-to-back scores to close the gap to two, 6-4, but Kew would zip one more into the net at 1:35 to give his team a 7-4 lead at the break.
 
Goals from Stechmiller and Jack Bruno at the start of the third quarter quickly turned today's contest into a one-point game, 7-6, with 12:19 to play, but a pair of goals from Tampa followed to cancel their efforts. Sadler found the back of the net at 8:41, taking advantage of an extra man opportunity, but once again the Spartans had a response to increase the margin back out to three, 10-7. A goal from Queens' Eric Fitz in the closing minutes of the quarter would bring the Royals to within two, 10-8, heading into the final 15 minutes of action.
 
The fourth quarter was all Tampa as they took control of the game for good. The Spartans put four additional points on the board in the period, while holding Queens scoreless until 1:42 when Justin Swick found the back of the net for the final goal of the day.
 
Queens was outshot 35-24, putting 16 shots on goal to Tampa's 24. The Royals also lost the battle for ground balls, 37-20. Anthony Caruso took the loss in goal for Queens after recording 10 saves. AJ Arnold grabbed the win after totaling seven saves in 58:05.
 
Tampa's Kew led all players on the field today with six goals, while Connor Whipple added five goals and three assists for eight points. Matt Vetter added two goals and one assists.
 
The Royals will have the home opener against North Greenville University on Saturday, February 18 at 1 p.m.