The Belmont Abbey women's lacrosse team built a 9-4 lead at the half and kept its advantage behind goalkeeper Tory Morgan's career-high 16 saves as the Crusaders earned a key Conference Carolinas win with a 10-6 triumph over the visiting Queens Royals this afternoon at Alumni Field. The win moves the Abbey's record to 4-5 overall and 2-1 in Conference Carolinas, while Queens drops to 4-7 overall and 1-2 in Conference Carolinas.

Queens scored three goals on its first three shots, the last of which knotted the game at three with 19:25 to play in the first, but the Crusaders ran away from the Royals as they scored six of the last seven goals of the half to open up a 9-4 halftime edge. Six of the goals came from four different players, as Rebecca Diggs scored twice, the first on a free position shot, while Elyse Mohn, Katy Connery and Lindsay Connolly scored the others.

Only three goals were scored in the second half as the goalkeepers combined to stop 21 shots, 11 from Morgan, who also totaled a game-high six ground balls. The Royals scored twice in the first 18 minutes to close the lead to 9-6 with 12:56 left, but Emily Hudgins found Connolly in front of the net and her shot found the back of the net with 4:34 to play to seal the win.

The Crusaders outshot Queens 30-29 and won the ground ball battle 26-24. The Crusaders won ten draw controls as Laura Dowd led the way with four. Lauren DiChiara caused a game-high three turnovers, while Connolly and Mohn both finished with two. The Crusaders totaled ten on the day.

Mohn led the Crusaders with three goals, while Connolly and Diggs both registered a pair. Hudgins, Dowd and Connery all had one each. Connolly posted two assists, while Hudgins, Mohn and Megan Patton had one.

Brittany Philip led the Royals with three goals. Shannon Casey, Brittany Barnwell and Kristi Kemp each had one. Casey had two assists and Paige Fisher had one.