CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A fast start and a gritty defensive stand lifted Queens (2-6-3, 1-2-0 ASUN) to a milestone result Thursday night at the Queens Sports Complex, as the Royals blanked FGCU (4-4-1, 1-1-0 ASUN) 1-0. Freshman Tamia Ford provided the breakthrough in the sixth minute, and the early strike held up to deliver Queens its first home conference victory of the season.

Scoring Summary
6' – QUEENS – Tamia Ford (Assist Addison Mello, McKayla Budion)

Turning Point
Queens struck first in the sixth minute when freshman Tamia Ford, making her first career start, scored her first collegiate goal. Ford converted a well-placed ball into the box from McKayla Budion, with an additional touch from Addison Mello setting up the finish. The Royals then preserved their lead in dramatic fashion late in the first half, as goalkeeper Hannah Dike-Lawlor stopped a penalty kick and immediately denied the rebound to keep FGCU off the board.

From Neely Noel
"It is a true team win in every sense, the team came in believing they could and they did," said head coach Neely Noel. "We had wonderful minutes from a lot of players, big plays in necessary moments and full team commitment to the goal of earning their first three points in conference." "I am so happy for them to have earned this result. They have trusted the process through hardship and this is them coming out the other side," said Neely Noel. "There's still a lot of work to be done, so we will enjoy a well-earned victory and move on to our next opponent on Sunday!"

Key Stats & Notes

• Freshman goalkeeper Hannah Dike-Lawlor tied her season high with nine saves and earned her second career clean sheet.
• Freshman Tamia Ford made her first career start in eight appearances and scored her first collegiate goal.
• McKayla Budion extended her assist streak to two games, while Addison Mello recorded her first career assist.
• Queens defense stood firm despite being outshot 19-4.
• Senior captains Savannah Stuart and Sejla Podzic, along with junior Erin Coleman, anchored the back line by playing the full 90 minutes. Midfielder Juliana Hunter also turned in a complete game.
• The win marked Queens first-ever victory over FGCU, its first home conference victory of the season, and its first shutout against the Eagles.

Up Next
Queens continues its homestand with a Sunday ASUN matchup against Stetson at 1 p.m. at the Queens Sports Complex. Fans can purchase their tickets in advance here.

Social Media
Be sure to follow the Queens Women's Soccer team on Facebook, X, and Instagram throughout the 2025 season to get the latest news and updates. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok by searching @QueensAthletics.