WINGATE, N.C.  – The 16^th-ranked Queens University of Charlotte men's lacrosse team fell 11-9 to No 13 Wingate University in today's South Atlantic Conference Championship game at Graham Gill Field. The loss brings the Royals' record to 13-4 on the year while the Bulldogs improve to 13-3.
 
Quinn Tallant, Jesse Oliver, and Eric Fitz each had two goals to lead Queens. A.J. Curtiss and Laszlo Henning added two points each on one goal and one assist. In goal, Anthony Valenza totaled 12 saves.
 
Both teams traded goals early today to knot things up at 2-2 with 6:17 on the clock. The Bulldogs then got hot scoring three in a row to take a 5-2 lead into the second quarter.
 
In the second, Queens' A.J. Curtiss struck first with a goal at 8:37 to cut Wingate's lead to two, but a goal from the Bulldogs soon followed increasing their lead back to three, 6-3. Queens' Eric Fitz then took over answering with back-to-back goals to close the gap to one, 6-5, at the halftime break.
 
In the third, a goal from the Bulldogs gave them a two-point lead at 12:21, but Queens responded scoring the only other two goals of the period to equalize things at 7-7 heading into the final 15 minutes of action.
 
The Bulldogs got going early in the fourth putting two additional points on the board to move in front 9-7. A goal from the Royals' Jesse Oliver would bring Queens back within one, but Wingate's Dominic Piazza followed with a goal to put his team back on top by two, 10-8.
 
With 2:25 to play, Quinn Tallant found the back of the net looking to start a run for the Royals, but his goal would be the last of the day for Queens as Wingate found an insurance goal at 1:09 to seal their win.
 
Queens was edged in shots, 38-35, putting 19 shots on goal to Wingate's 23 shots on frame. Both teams totaled 18 ground balls each and Wingate won 15-of-24 face-offs.  
 
Joe Cooper led the Bulldogs with three goals while Connor Gronbach and Alex Llerandi each added two goals. Alex Cordero totaled 10 saves in goal.
 
Following the game, Drew Flack, Griffin Stechmiller, and Valenza were named to the all-tournament team.  
 
The NCAA DII Men's Lacrosse selection show is scheduled to air on Sunday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m. on NCAA.com. Queens is currently ranked fifth in the South Region.
 
SAC All-Tournament Team
Eric Dickinson, Lenoir-Rhyne
Reese Scott, Catawba
Drew Flack, Queens
Anthony Valenza, Queens
Griffin Stechmiller, Queens
Joe Cooper, Wingate
Alex Llerandi, Wingate
James Houston, Wingate
Dominic Piazza, Wingate
Wyatt Weiseman, Wingate
MVP - Wyatt Weiseman, Wingate