CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- Two goals in the second half were the difference as Queens University of Charlotte defeated Tusculum 2-0 in South Atlantic Conference women's soccer action Wednesday afternoon at Dickson Field.
Charlotte Ring scored in the 58th minute to break a 0-0 tie and Elizabeth Phan added an insurance goal in the 77th minute for the Royals (4-1-1, 2-1-0 SAC), who outshot the Pioneers (4-2-0, 2-1-0 SAC) by a 15-4 margin in the match.
Both teams put shots on goal in the opening stages of the match, with an attempt by Ring stopped by Tusculum keeper Hannah Graham in the 5th minute followed by a save by Royals' keeper Rachel Quest on a try by Cheyenne Upton in the 7th minute.
Queens had the majority of the attack in the first half, with Tusculum's lone shot over the final 37 minutes coming from Jordan Newby, which was stopped by Quest in the 32nd minute. Meanwhile, Graham was called upon to make saves on Leanne Bryant in the 37th minute and Phan on a header in the 43rd minute. The Royals finished the half with an 8-2 edge in shots over the Pioneers.
More pressure came from the Royals in the opening minutes of the second half, with the Pioneers answering in the 54th minute as Brooke Radcliffe partially broke through the defense but was denied by Quest. The Royals came up with the first goal of the day at 57:11 as Ring beat Graham on a one-on-one for her third goal of the season.
After coming from behind in the second half of a 2-1 win at Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday, the Pioneers looked to duplicate the feat against the Royals and nearly got the equalizer at 70:46, but a shot from Katja Andersson rang off the crossbar to keep Queens on top 1-0.
At 76:48, the Royals extended their lead to 2-0 as Phan collected a bobbled ball in front of the net and put home her first goal of the season. From there, the Queens defense held Tusculum without a shot as Quest finished off her second shutout of the season.
Queens had all eight corner kicks in the match, while Tusculum was whistled for nine fouls to eight by the Royals. Graham made three saves before giving way to Tatiana Brady for the final 6 minutes, 17 seconds, while Quest had three saves for the Royals.
The Pioneers will return home Saturday at 1 p.m. to host Anderson in a SAC match at Pioneer Field.
