The Belmont Abbey women's soccer team scored two unanswered goals, capped off by Kooba Richard's first career marker in the 62nd minute, as the Crusaders women's soccer team earned a 2-1 season opening win at Queens this evening.

Julianna Tucker scored the first goal of the match for Queens off a corner kick in the 15th minute, but Belmont Abbey fought back, tying the game in the 26th minute on a header by Meghan Philp and taking the lead in the 62nd minute on a goal from Richard.

The Royals struck early with five shots before the Crusaders' offense recorded one shot, including Tucker's goal.

Belmont Abbey kept it close all night and finally came through on its first shot on goal, which was Philp's header off of a Laura Shelton cross.

The match remained deadlocked at one until the 62nd minute, when Richard, who missed all of last year after suffering an injury against Queens in a preseason friendly, netted her first career goal off of a pass from Kate Hennessy.

Belmont Abbey's defense held off the Royals for the rest of the game, despite a Royals shot hitting the crossbar in the 84th minute.

Megan Bowen recorded her first career win.  She recorded one save while Queens' starting goalkeeper Tori Danchak did not record a save. Kaelyn O'Hop tended the Abbey goal in the final 45 minutes, making one save.

The Crusaders visit the North Alabama Lions on Saturday.