The Lindenwood women's lacrosse team advanced to the NCAA Division II Semifinals for the fourth straight season on Saturday afternoon at Hunter Stadium in St. Charles, Mo. The Lady Lions won their NCAA Quarterfinals match by an 11-5 score over Queens (N.C.).
 
Lindenwood dominated the first half of play and was able to build a large 6-1 lead by halftime. The Lady Lions won draw controls 7-1 in the half and outshot the Royals by a 14-6 margin.
 
After the two teams were scoreless for the first five minutes, Rachel Benzing and Morgan Judd put Lindenwood up 2-0 with goals just over a minute part. Queens answered at the 20:28 mark, but Lindenwood's defense would go nearly 30 minutes before allowing another goal. The Lady Lions struck four more times in the first half, with six different players all scoring one goal.
 
Lindenwood continued to build on its lead in the second half, eventually leading by an 11-3 score with 5:40 remaining, before Queens was finally able to put back-to-back goals together for the first time in the game. The Royals were never able to get it closer than six, however, as 11-5 turned out to be the final margin of victory.
 
Benzing led the offense with two goals and three assists. Hannah Doughty also had a pair of goals and seven other players had one score, including Maria Johnson who scored the game-winner. Judd led the team with three groundballs, Erin Abbott and Johnson each had three draw controls, and Savannah Phillips forced two turnovers. Rachel Ortell was in goal for all 60 minutes, and made seven saves while allowing just the five goals.
 
Both teams finished with seven saves, and Lindenwood had 10 more shots at 27-17. The Lady Lions also had four more draw controls, one more groundball, and two fewer turnovers.
 
The victory marked the second straight year that Lindenwood defeated Queens in the NCAA Quarterfinals, and the Lady Lions are now 4-0 all-time in NCAA Quarterfinal contests, with three of those victories coming at Hunter Stadium.
 
The Lady Lions, who improved to 21-1 on the season, will head to Bloomsburg, Pa. next week for the final two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Lindenwood will take on Florida Southern in the semifinals next Friday at 2 p.m. (central time). The winner of that game will take on the winner of the Adelphi and Le Moyne contest on Sunday, May 21, at 1 p.m. (central time).