CHARLOTTE, N.C.  – The Queens University of Charlotte women's lacrosse team pulled out a 16-10 victory over the Catawba College Indians at Dickson Field this afternoon and clinched a bye for the first round of the South Atlantic Conference Championships. The Royals (8-8, 6-1 SAC) will advance straight to the semifinals on Friday, April 27, following next week's regular-season finale.
 
Returning to the field for the first time since March 15, Shannon Mansberger made the most of her Senior Day, scoring four goals and assisting on another. Hanna Scott also tallied four goals, along with two assists, to tie Katie Wardle (two goals, four assists) with a team-high six points. Allison Conn and Ally Blood chipped in with two goals apiece.
 
Another senior, Audrey Chesser (8), and Cammy Case (6) led Queens to a season-high 20 draw controls. Case also scooped four ground balls and caused four turnovers. Chase Brokaw picked up six ground balls of her own and took the win in goal, making nine saves.
 
Catawba (9-7, 5-2 SAC) took a 2-1 lead within the first three minutes of the game, but Queens answered with five straight goals over the next seven minutes. After the teams traded a pair of goals, Conn's second tally with 4:10 to go in the first half pushed the Royals' lead to five.
 
The Indians would battle back, holding the Royals scoreless for the next 12:42 spanning halftime while finding the back of the net four times themselves to cut the Royals' lead to one, 9-8.
 
It was all Queens from there, however, as the Royals outscored the Indians 7-2 over the final 22 minutes of action
 
Queens outshot Catawba, 34-26, putting seven more shots on goal. The Royals also won the ground ball battle, 24-20, and won 20-of-28 draw controls.
 
The Indians were led offensively by Katie Barth, who recorded a hat trick, and Erin Green, who had two goals and two assists. Madison Anselmo made ten saves and was credited with the loss.
 
Queens honored seniors Mansberger, Chesser, Sarah Cliff, and Jasmin Singh before they took the field for the final time at home.
 
The Royals will conclude their regular season at Wingate University on Saturday, April 21, at noon. Queens is 5-0 against Wingate since joining the SAC, and the Royals most recently beat the Bulldogs 16-0 in last year's conference title game.