Mount Olive fell behind 7-0 in the game's first 14 minutes, then saw a late rally fall short as the Trojans dropped a 12-8 Conference Carolinas women's lacrosse match to Queens (N.C.) Saturday evening at Amon Field.
For much of the first half, Queens (3-3 overall, 2-0 Conference Carolinas) appeared ready to blow out their new Conference Carolinas hosts. It took just 41 seconds for the Royals to score their first marker, then later added three goals in 59 seconds to make it 6-0.
It was 7-0 when the Trojan attack came to life. Riann Daziel delivered her first goal with 13:44 left in the half thanks to an assist from Alanna Bauche. After Queens regained its seven-goal advantage, Mount Olive (1-3, 0-2) put together a flurry of offense of its own.
Allie Dunn scored on a free position shot with 10:51 left, then Alysha Kulka and Michelle Scannell followed suit.
By intermission, the Trojans were showing signs of life on offense, but still faced a 10-4 deficit.
In the second half, Mount Olive turned up the defense, forcing the Royals into 14, second-half turnovers. After trading goals early in the second half, Mount Olive inched closer on Scannell's second free position goal to make it 11-6 with 14:58 remaining.
At the worst possible time for the Trojans, however, Queens stepped up its defense as well. It took more than 12 minutes for the Trojans to get any closer.
Kulka scored on an assist by Candace Corkin to cut the deficit to four, but only 2:50 remained. Thirty-one seconds later, Daziel cut it to 11-8 with a man-up goal.
Mount Olive got no closer.
The Trojans return to action Sunday evening when Mount Olive faces another first year program in Young Harris beginning at 4:30 p.m. at Amon Field.