HICKORY, N.C. – The top-ranked Queens University of Charlotte Royals cruised to victory today, defeating Lincoln Memorial University 25-4 in the semifinal round of the South Atlantic Conference Women's Lacrosse Championship. With the win, the Royals advance to their eighth straight Championship Final.
Queens was dominant on the offensive end of the field outshooting the Railsplitters, 47-11, to put 39 shots on goal. The Royals also led at the draw, 20-11, with
Sydney Bracken securing six to lead the way and
Shannon Kingston adding five.
Super senior
Rebecca Kinsley totaled five goals and six assists for 11 points to match the single-game record at Queens.
Shannon Donovan and
Kaitlyn Hardin followed with six points on five goals and one assist each while
Kyleigh Masteran added four goals. Kingston chipped in with two goals and two assists and
Caroline Krauch netted a pair as well.
Carson Giordano wrapped the scoring with three points on two assists and one goal.
Queens opened with five unanswered goals in the first quarter before allowing the Railsplitters to get on the board with less than five minutes left in the period. LMU then struck first in the second quarter to close the gap to three, 5-2. However, the Royals erupted with an 11-0 run that stretched into the game's second half to take control for good.
With Queens leading 16-2, LMU found its third goal of the day at 7:30 in the third. Queens answered with four straight goals to extend the lead to, 17, 20-3. The Royals then outscored the Railsplitters 5-1 in the fourth to advance to Sunday's final.
In goal,
Caroline Kraemer and
Sharn Muffett split time for Queens as Kraemer took the win with six saves.
Jaedyn Ryba and Ali Van Der Ziel each scored two goals for the Railsplitters. In goal, Keegan Gillman and Eller Miller combined for 14 saves.
During today's game, Hardin was celebrated for reaching the century mark in career points while Kingston was celebrated for reaching it in career draw controls.
Queens will face either Wingate or Newberry in the SAC Championship game on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Hickory, N.C.
Be sure to follow the women's lacrosse team on Twitter @QueensWlax and Instagram @Queensroyalslax 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.
