Hickory, N.C.----The top-ranked Queens University Royals scored 11 of the first 12 goals Sunday afternoon en route to their 21-5 victory over 19th-ranked Wingate University in the South Atlantic Conference women's lacrosse tournament championship game at Moretz Stadium. The Royals improve to 19-0 overall, while the Bulldogs drop to 15-3 overall.
 
KEY STATS
 
- Queens out-shot Wingate 41-15
- The Royals held a 30-14 advantage in shots on goal
- QU committed 17 of the 31 turnovers in the contest
- The Bulldogs were limited to 13-of-22 on clear attempts while the Royals were 12-for-13
- Queens recorded 20 of 34 ground balls
- The Royals won 24 of 30 draw controls
 
KEY BULLDOGS
 
- Leah Knowles scored two goals for Wingate, also registering two ground balls and two draw controls
- Camryn Gallagher dished out two assists
- Becca Ruiz added a score and two caused turnovers
- Nelida Watson found the back of the net on a free-position shot in the first period
- Kaleigh Wilgeroth recorded a goal on her lone shot attempt of the day
- Bella Pellet had a team-high three ground balls and three caused turnovers
- Megan Biase made nine saves in the cage
 
NOTES
 
- Wingate's second-ever appearance in the SAC title game
- The Bulldogs also fell to Queens in the 2016 championship
- Each of the 'Dogs' three losses this season are to the two teams atop the southeast regional ranking
- WU was ranked fourth in the most recent release of the regional ranks
- The Bulldogs are seeking their first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history
- Knowles, Ruiz, Biase and Paige Kamer were named to the SAC All-Tournament team following the conclusion of the game
 
FIRST PERIOD
 
- The Royals got on the board early, scoring their first six goals of the game in the first nine minutes
- Watson's free-position goal put the 'Dogs on the board at the 2:14 mark
- Queens led 8-1 after 15 minutes
 
SECOND PERIOD
 
- QU extended its lead to start the second period, leading 11-1 midway through the frame
- Knowles scored her 63rd goal of the season with five minutes to go in the half
- The Royals added another goal to take a 12-2 halftime advantage
 
THIRD PERIOD
 
- Knowles' second goal opened the scoring in the second half
- The Royals scored the final five goals of the third, taking a 17-3 lead with 15 minutes to go
 
FOURTH PERIOD
 
- Wingate's offense showed fight to start the fourth quarter, as Ruiz and Wilgeroth scored back-to-back to cut into the deficit
- Queens added four more scores before all was said and done, claiming their eighth consecutive SAC Tournament title
 
UP NEXT
 
- The Bulldogs learn their postseason fate at the NCAA Division II Women's Lacrosse Tournament selection show next Sunday, May 8