PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Queens University of Charlotte women's rugby team was defeated by Brown University (6-3), 23-15, in their first-ever National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) semifinal round at Marvel Field Saturday morning.
 
The Royals finished their first season in the NIRA with a record of 4-3 and additionally went 5-3 overall.
 
Queens was led by senior Antares Lance who recorded two tries in the loss, and Angelica Rodriguez also chipped in one try of her own.
 
BU was the first to score a try to the board four minutes into play, but the Royals would respond with a try from Lance to tie things up, 5-5.
 
A penalty was then issued to Queens giving Brown a three point lead after a successful penalty kick was added to the board (8-5).
 
Brown would add another try with 10 minutes remaining in the first half of play to increase the score to13-5.
 
Another try from Lance in the minutes to follow would cut the Bears' lead to three (13-10), and the Royals would take their first lead in the match with another try from Rodriguez to make the halftime score 15-13.
 
Queens began the second half holding onto possession, but a BU interception halted the Royals' opportunity to move up the pitch.
 
The Bears would then record another try to take the lead once again, 18-15, and then sealed the bid to the NIRA Tier II Championship match with another try to make the final score 23-15.
 
The squad will return in the spring of 2020 when the rugby 7's season is set to begin.