CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The Queens University of Charlotte women's rugby team will advance to the NIRA Championship after storming past American International College in the semifinals, 22-12.

"The ultimate motivation our team needed for semis was to have a match-up against AIC, who was the opponent from last year's unsuccessful semifinal match," said Queens Head Women's Rugby Coach Dana Meschisi.  "AIC is a tactically sound team with amazing athletes that just tested us defensively for 80 minutes."
 
In the first half, the game started slowly as both teams headed into the break with seven points each. Lea Pruss had the first try of the game followed by a Maddie Hughes conversion to start the game 7-0. AIC would then respond with their own conversion and try to tie the game at the half.
 
The Royals started the second half trailing as AIC scored a try to take the lead 12-7. Maggie Sweeney would answer back for Queens with a try, and Hughes scored a conversion to regain control, 14-12. Alle English would then score another try to make the Royals lead 19-12, and Hughes would then score a penalty kick to give the game its final score, 22-12.

"Our team has been building every single match and chipping away at every training session leading up to playoffs," Meschisi added. "Being grateful is an understatement, as I've had the great pleasure of leading these young players, on and off the field towards their goal of making it to NIRA Finals. The transition the team has made this year has been 100% player driven. Our team's success is an accumulation of the hard work from not only the players, but coaches, alumni, families, and friends throughout the season."

Queens will play in their first NIRA Division II Championship on November 19 at 2:00 p.m.