CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte women's lacrosse team ranked No. 9 in the nation, responded with authority this afternoon in its home opener topping No. 6 Rollins, 6-3. Queens improves to 1-1 on the season with the win, while the Tars fall to 1-2 on the season.
 
The Royals were led by Katie Wardle who totaled two goals and one assist. She was followed by Ally Blood, Allison Conn, Shannon Mansberger, and Abigail Paulus who each tallied one goal apiece.
 
The Royals continued their hot shooting this season into today's game, scoring on three-of-six shots in the opening half. After the Tars took advantage of a yellow card shown to the Royals to score at the 22:02, Queens' Ally Blood found the back of the net to knot things up at 1-1 with 13:41 remaining. The Royals then followed a second Rollins goal with a pair from Allison Conn and Katie Wardle to take a 3-2 lead into the halftime break.
 
Mansberger put the Royals ahead 4-2 with an unassisted goal at the 22:47 mark in the second half, but a goal from Rollins' Megan Cury would cut the margin to one again, 4-3, with 18:19 on the clock. Fouled in the shooting space, Paulus responded for Queens connected on a free-position-shot at 16:07 to give the home team a 5-3 advantage. For the remainder of play, the Royals held the Tars scoreless with strong defensive play. Katie Wardle would score the Royals' insurance goal at 5:46 to help secure the first victory of the season.
 
The Royals took 14 shots this afternoon, putting 13 shots on goal. Queens also edged the Tars 12-10 in ground balls. Chase Brokaw totaled 12 saves in her first career start.
 
Kallie German, Hannah Ashton, and Cury each scored one goal for the Tars.
 
The Royals can be seen back in action on Monday, February 27 as they host Saint Leo College. The game is set to begin at 4 p.m.