CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The No. 17 Queens University of Charlotte Royals defeated Anderson on Senior Day by a score of 20-11. With the win, the Royals overall record improves to 7-4, while their conference record moves to 7-2.
Kealan Pilon stole the show setting a new single game record with an incredible eleven points. The senior attackman could not be tamed as he ran circles around the Trojan defense producing five goals and setting up six with pinpoint passes.
Quinn Tallant was able to finish off a handle full of chances served up by Pilon as Tallant ended the day with four goals.
Tyler Ewen also finished the day with four points completing a hat trick and adding an assist for his total.
Kevin Barry and
Austin Leonard each had three points on two goals and an assist.
Neither side got off to a particularly hot start, but Queens was methodical in their approach in the opening five minutes. While nothing found the back of the net, the Royals offense was testing out Anderson' defense looking for holes to expose. This tactic paid dividends as Queens was able to control the majority of the opening quarter scoring four and holding the Trojans to one.
Queens would not wait so long to strike in the second quarter as they had found a recipe for success in the first. Two goals in under a minute gave the Royal their largest lead of the day 6-1. Anderson then shifted to the attack and put Queens on their heels producing three goals in three minutes. The Royals responded to the Trojan explosion with two goals in thirty seconds to take an 8-4 advantage into the break.
The third quarter was much more of a coaching battle as each side came out of the dressing room with defensive adjustments. Queens kept themselves compact and relayed on excellent communication to collectively smother all of Anderson's chances. However, the Royals themselves couldn't recreate their first half success and really struggled to get quality looks at goal. The quarter ended seeing each side score two as Queens held a 10-6 lead going into the fourth.
The fourth quarter saw fifteen goals scored between the two sides in the final frame. It was a free-flowing scoring experience seeing each side have a plethora of opportunities. The Trojans scored first in what would be an avalanche of goals in the final 15. The Royals quickly responded with two goals a minute and a half apart. The two sides then went back and forth trading goals for the first half of the quarter. However, with five and a half minutes left Queens kicked it into high gear and the Trojans could not keep pace. The Royals would close with six goals in four minutes to put the question to rest and seal the 20-11 victory.
Queens outshot the Trojans 54-43 and hit the net 35 times as Anderson hit the target on 30 occasions. The Royals committed 26 turnovers as the Trojans only had 18. Queens finished the day 14-of-20 clearing the ball for a 70 percent success rate. Anderson went 17-of-26 attempting to clear the ball for a 65 percent success rate. The Royals swarmed in groups to nearly every loose ball coming away with an impressive 44 ground ball haul. The Trojans ended the day with 27 ground balls. Additionally, Queens was fantastic at the faceoff winning 27-of-34 for a 79 percent win rate.
The Royals are back in action on Saturday, April 17 as they travel to Salisbury, North Carolina to play Catawba. The clash with the Indians is set for a 4 p.m. start.
