Postgame Interview with Clare Short

WINGATE, N.C.  – The Queens University of Charlotte women's lacrosse team won its fifth consecutive South Atlantic Conference Championship title this evening defeating Lenoir-Rhyne University, 13-9, in the final game of the season. The Royals, who entered the Championships seeded second, complete the year with an 11-8 record while the top-seeded Bears close the year at 9-9.
 
Junior midfielder Katie Wardle was named Tournament MVP after leading all players on the field with six goals after scoring 5-of-5 free position shots. Hanna Scott added four points after recording a hat trick and one assist while Allison Conn totaled three points on two goals and one assist. Shannon Mansberger chipped in with one goal and one assist, and Ally Blood added one goal. Goalkeeper Chase Brokaw took the win in goal after accumulating four saves.
 
The Royals, looking to avenge their regular season loss to the Bears, fell behind 3-1 early in today's game before Wardle scored three-straight free position shots to give Queens its first lead, 4-3, with 4:38 left to play in the opening half. The Bears would tie the game at 4-4 with a goal from Michelle Tang, but another free position shot from Wardle put Queens in front, 5-4, heading into the halftime break.
 
After trading goals early in the second half with the Bears, Queens took control scoring six unanswered goals to build a 12-5 lead with 15:36 left in regulation. Lenoir-Rhyne made one final push answering with four-straight to close the gap to three, 12-9, with 6:55 on the clock, but Queens' defense stepped up holding the Bears to just two shot attempts in the final minutes. In addition, a late goal from Conn would provide some insurance increasing Queens' lead to four, 13-9, with 1:30 on the clock.
 
Queens outshot the Bears, 40-17, putting 27 shots on goal to Lenoir-Rhyne's 13 shots on frame. Queens also won the battle at the draw, 14-10, though they were edged in ground balls, 13-12.
 
Gabby Sousa led the Bears with four goals and one assist for five points while Cathleen Gaffney totaling three goals and two assists for five points as well. SAC Player of the Year Ines Flueck finished with 14 saves in goal.
 
Following the win, Case, Brokaw, Mansberger, Scott, and Singh joined Wardle on the all-tournament team. The Royals are now 10-0 in SAC Championship play after winning their fifth-straight title.

Click below for the postgame comments from Royals head coach Clare Short.