Box Score Box Score

DOVER, Del. – Sophomore Allie Hackbarth blasted a goal just 21 seconds into regulation, giving the ninth-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team all the scoring it would need as the Captains posted a 1-0 victory over Wesley on Sunday afternoon at Scott D. Miller Stadium.

The goal, which marked the first of Hackbarth's career, was all the Captains required as the squad benefited from an outstanding defensive effort. Jamie Dowling made five saves to help CNU post its fourth shutout of the season and the team's second straight after blanking Bridgewater last Sunday. Chelsea Hines also had a pair of defensive saves to help the squad's cause.

With the victory, Christopher Newport now sits at 11-1 and keeps its nine-game winning streak intact. The setback moves Wesley to 8-6 and snaps the squad's two-game roll.

In their first contest as a top-10 team in nearly two years, the Captains wasted little time imposing their will. Just 21 seconds into the first half, Hackbarth found some room in the Wesley zone and ripped a rocket into the back of the cage, which staked CNU to an early 1-0 advantage.

Off to a quick start, Christopher Newport continued to press the Wolverines. Following the goal, the squad unloaded three straight shots in a 50-second span, but the first was blocked before Wesley's Elizabeth Groom stoned the next two. Feeling the pressure, the hosts responded.

During a four-minute surge in the middle of the first half, the Wolverines earned a corner and fired a slew of shots. Despite the attack, Wesley was unable to crack the stingy CNU defense as Dowling swatted away the first attempt before Hines swooped in and cleaned up the second shot for her first defensive save of the contest.

After feeling each other out with a pair of surges, the two teams continued to engage in a seesaw battle. Groom withstood another Captain run with a pair of saves, while Dowling matched her in the CNU zone after batting aside a Wesley bullet. Later, after Christopher Newport shut down a pair of corners, Groom wrapped up the first half with a nice save on a laser by Jordan Snider to keep the squad's deficit at one.

The second half played much like the first as the two teams continued to trade blows. Once again, Groom and Dowling starred on the defensive end as the Wesley goalie posted two saves, while the Captain keeper notched one during a 15-minute stretch. Shortly thereafter, Hines lent a hand again, getting her stick on a Madison Leone shot to keep the Wolverines scoreless.

Still clutching to their one-goal lead, the Captains had to withstand one last push by Wesley to seal the victory. Following a timeout with less than eight minutes left in regulation, the hosts earned three corners and ripped five shots. Despite the assault, CNU held tough. The defense continued to cut off the WC attack before Dowling stepped up again.

In the final five minutes of regulation, the senior stalwart faced a pair of tracers but continued to stand tall. Against Wesley's last ditch effort, Dowling posted her final two saves of the contest to cap off the 1-0 victory.

During the game, the Captains and Wolverines both collected 16 shots, while Wesley held a modest 7-5 advantage in corners. Groom finished with seven saves for the hosts, while Dowling had five for CNU.

Christopher Newport will return to action on Wednesday when the squad heads to Washington D.C. for a 6 p.m. showdown with No. 17 Catholic.

---CNU---