CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte field hockey team will advance to the South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Championship game on Sunday, November 10 after defeating Belmont Abbey College this evening by a score of 4-2 at Bessant Field. This is the second-straight year that the Royals have made it to the conference finals.
 
Queens got on the board fast when Hanna Nechay found the back of the cage just 31 seconds into play. The Royals held the 1-0 lead until Belmont Abbey's Laura Harrison was able to answer in the 27^th to knot the game at 1-1 heading into the halftime break.
 
In the third, Queens' Molly Walter put the home team back in front with an unassisted goal in the 39^th. An insurance goal from Jill Sherman of the Royals then followed in the 54^th to give Queens a 3-1 advantage. The Crusaders would cut the lead back down to one after scoring a goal in the 56^th, but the Royals had a response in the 58^th from Korey Fine that would put the game away for good.
 
Queens edged the Crusaders 10-8 in shots, though both teams ended play with seven shots on goal each. The Royals also earned nine penalty corners to Belmont Abbey's five.
 
In goal, Avian Thompson completed play with five saves for the Royals.
 
Queens will face third-seeded Limestone in the Championship Final on Sunday at 2 p.m. The Royals and the Saints faced off in last year's finals as well with Limestone coming out on top by a score of 3-2.