Queens Claims SAC Women's Lacrosse Championship Title

[Watch replay]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens University of Charlotte defeated Lenoir-Rhyne University this afternoon in the 2014 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Women's Lacrosse Championship today by the score of 14-5. The conference tournament win is the first for the Royals in program history.

Leading the Royals in points today was SAC Freshman of the Year Abigail Pauluswho totaled nine points on a hat trick and six assist. The attacker was named tournament MVP following the game.

Junior attacker Jena Ready added four goals and two assists in the win, while freshman midfielder Kelly Dowd recorded a hat trick. Defensively, the Royals were led by Bridgette Larranaga and Akasha Kasper who each tallied four caused turnovers. Dowd finished the game with three. Goalkeeper Danielle Horoschakfinished the game with seven saves.

Today's game began with both teams trading goals at the start under a steady flow of rain. Paulus and Ready then netted two in a row for the Royals to help them go ahead 3-1 with 23:02 on the clock.

Brittany Barnwell would score Queens' next goal with 15:25 to play sparking a 5-0 run by the Royals. Lenoir-Rhyne would net the final two goals of the half to head into the locker room trailing Queens, 8-4.

Queens' offense out-powered the Bears in the second half as well as the Royals scored six goals in the inclement weather conditions with Paulus assisting on three in a row. The Royals' stifling defense held the Bears to just one goal in the period.

Queens outshot the Bears 29-24 and won the ground ball battle, 27-18. Queens also dominated the draw, winning 15 of the game's 21.

Lauren Donavan led Lenoir-Rhyne's offense with two goals and one assist. Goalkeepers Amanda Cotto and Ashley Gruning each tallied five saves in goal.

All-Tournament Team

Meredith Jones- Catawba
Ajahna Grosvenor- Newberry
Amanda Cotto- Lenoir-Rhyne
Rachel Hall- Lenoir-Rhyne
Hayley Beattie- Lenoir-Rhyne
Lauren Donovan- Lenoir-Rhyne
Brittany Barnwell- Queens
Akasha Kasper- Queens
Danielle Horoschak- Queens
Kelly Dowd- Queens
Jena Ready- Queens
Abigail Paulus- Queens (Tournament MVP)