HICKORY, N.C. – The 17^th-ranked Queens University of Charlotte men's lacrosse team moved to 5-3 on the year and 2-2 in league play after falling this evening to No. 15 Lenoir-Rhyne University (7-3, 4-1).
 
Tonight's game was a back and forth affair from the start as the Bears led 2-0 early before a man-up goal from Hunter Meyer closed the gap to one with 11:09 on the clock. The two teams then traded goals to give the game a 3-2 score heading into the second quarter.
 
Lenoir-Rhyne jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the second period before Queens came roaring back with four unanswered goals in the final five minutes of the half to trail 8-7 at the break.
 
The battle continued in the third quarter where neither team added more than one goal to its point total, setting the game up for an intense fourth quarter of action. The Bears got things going with three in a row to increase the margin to four, 12-8, with 10:39 left in regulation. However, Queens answered with three goals of their own to pull within one, 12-11, once again.
 
Unfortunately for the Royals, Lenoir-Rhyne's Tommy Aguilar would score the game-winner with less than a minute to play. Queens would have two opportunities to knot the game up and force overtime, but one shot would go high while the final was turned away by Lenoir-Rhyne's goalkeeper at the horn.
 
Kealan Pilon and Jack Royer led the Royals in points tonight with five each. Pilon totaled three goals and two assists while Royer had two goals and three assists. Tyler Ewen contributed with two goals and two assists and Meyer chipped in with a pair of goals as well.
 
In goal, William Powley took the loss for Queens after recording 13 saves.
 
The Royals were edged in shots, 44-38, putting 20 shots on goals to Lenoir-Rhyne's 26. The Bears won the battle for ground balls, 31-24, and totaled 14 face-off wins to Queens' 12. Alex Alonso recorded all 12 wins for the Royals at the face-off and led in ground balls with five.
 
Toron Eccleston led the Bears with four goals while Tommy Aguilar and Will Canata each scored three goals. Goalkeeper Noah Johnson finished with nine saves.
 
Queens will be back in action at Coker on Wednesday, Mar. 30 at 7 p.m.
 
Be sure to follow the men's lacrosse team on Twitter @QueensMLAX and Instagram @queens_mlax to stay up to date with everything surrounding the team. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics on all social media platforms by searching @QueensAthletics.