GAFFNEY, S.C. – Junior attack Tyler Papa (Manlius, N.Y.) tallied four goals as the nationally third-ranked Limestone College men's lacrosse team built up a five-goal lead before the Blue and Gold had to fend off a late rally to record a 10-9 decision over No. 17 Queens University of Charlotte on Saturday, March 2.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: No. 3 Limestone 10, No. 17 Queens (N.C.) 9
Records: No. 3 Limestone (5-0), No. 17 Queens (N.C.) (3-1)
Location: Saints Field
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
 

• Papa finished with four goals on six shots
• Senior attack Matt Bennett (Nedrow, N.Y.) registered two goals and an assist
• Senior attack Jeremy Burns (Fort Mitchell, Ky.) added a pair of scores
• Junior midfielder Clark Walter (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) chipped in a goal
• Senior Matt Hommel (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) tallied a goal
• Junior Dakota Kirsch-Downs (Odenton, Md.) went 8-of-10 at the "X" with seven groundballs
• Senior keeper Danny Forren (Trumbull, Conn.) finished with 12 saves
• Limestone posted a 40-33 margin in shots attempted and a 34-31 edge in groundballs

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First Quarter
 
Papa put the Blue and Gold in front early on, taking it himself for his 13^th goal of the season less than two minutes into the period, but Queens was quick with the equalizer. However, an unassisted goal by Burns and another score by Papa with 4:40 left staked the Saints to a 3-1 cushion at the end of the first.
 
Second Quarter
 
Midway through the second, Papa completed his hat trick to put Limestone on top 4-1 with 8:10 remaining in the quarter. The Royals responded about four minutes later to cut the lead in half, 4-2, but Papa would again beat the keeper just before the end of the period as the Saints took a 5-2 advantage at the break.
 
Third Quarter
 
Limestone pushed the lead to 6-2 early in the third on a goal by Hommel, but Queens had an answer on the other end to stay within striking distance. It appeared the Saints would start pulling away as Burns and Bennett both split the frame with back-to-back scores, making it an 8-3 game with 7:12 remaining.
 
The Royals halted the run with a goal less than a minute later, but Bennett finished off a beautiful feed from junior Jordan Stouros (Ottawa, Ontario) to put Limestone back on top by five. However, Queens would get two late goals in the period as the visitors climbed to within 9-6 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter
 
Walter scored for the Blue and Gold – his only goal of the day – just 58 ticks into the final period as Limestone extended its lead to 10-6. The Royals continued to stick around through as a goal with 11:10 left cut the margin to two before another score late in regulation made it a one-goal game.
 
Queens made things really interesting in the final minute as it tacked on a man-up score, pulling to within 10-9 with 42 ticks remaining, before winning the ensuing faceoff. However, the attempt at the tying goal would sail wide of the frame with six seconds left before a loose ball on the restart ended the contest.
 
TURNING POINT
 
The Saints never trailed in this one, building leads of 8-3 and 9-4 midway through the third quarter, but Queens would turn the contest into a nail-bitter in the late going. The Royals ended the game on a 5-2 run to pull to within a goal, but the Limestone defense made a last-second stand to hold on for the win.
 
NOTABLES
 

• The last two games with the Royals have come down to the wire
• The Saints avenged a 15-14 loss at Queens a year ago, improving to 17-2 in the all-time series
• Both teams combined to go 1-of-8 on extra man opportunities
• Limestone won 14-of-23 faceoff attempts, including a 6-for-9 clip in the third quarter
• The Saints are off to a 5-0 start for the fourth time in the last five seasons

 
UP NEXT
 
Limestone opens up Conference Carolinas play when it hosts Lees-McRae College on Tuesday, March 5 at Saints Field. It will be the first night game of the year for the Saints as the contest is set for 7 p.m.