CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- Queens University of Charlotte defeated Tusculum University 2-0 in South Atlantic Conference women's soccer action at a sweltering Dickson Field on Wednesday afternoon.
With the air temperature in the mid-90s as part of an historic October heat wave, the Royals (6-3-1, 2-2-0 SAC) received goals from Lulu Phan in the sixth minute and Taylor Hunkele in the 67th minute to earn the victory over the Pioneers (3-6-0, 0-3-0 SAC), who were playing the last of nine straight road matches to start the season.
Queens had a 23-8 advantage in shots over Tusculum, but were held to just two goals by Pioneer keeper Chelsea Sheerin, who was making her first career appearance in goal at any level. Sheerin was pressed into duty due to injuries to starter Cecilie Ting Mortensen and second-stringer Danielle Breen, and had just two days of practice to acclimate herself as a goalkeeper. Sheerin finished the match with nine saves, including six during a first half that saw the Royals pepper five shots on target in the first seven minutes.
The Royals went up 1-0 at 5:43 as a pass from Mia Manuel was delivered to Phan, who chipped past Sheerin from five yards out. Queens had eight shot attempts and put five on goal before Tusculum's first shot in the 11th minute by Kate Guildford was stopped by Erica Turner.
Sheerin continued to keep the Royals at bay by making saves on Phan in the 18th and 32nd minutes. Meanwhile, Turner had stops on Gallo in the 35th minute, Chayse Stonebraker in the 37th minute and Guildford again in the 39th minute.
In the second half, Sheerin came up with saves on Emma Rose Stockton in the 57th minute and Bryce Brozovich in the 64th minute to keep the Pioneers within a goal. However, Hunkele doubled the Queens lead at 66:50 and the Royals defense held the Pioneers without a shot the rest of the afternoon.
Turner finished with nine saves for the Royals, who took all five corner kicks in the match. Tusculum had a 16-11 edge in fouls called, and Queens was flagged twice for offsides.
Tusculum will play its first home game of the year on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. against Anderson at Pioneer Field.