Box Score
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Marlene Lichty scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner in double-overtime, to lead the 13th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team to a thrilling 3-2 victory over No. 5 Mary Washington on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon at Captains Turf Field.

Lichty and Belle Tunstall both scored first-half goals to lead the Captains to a 2-0 halftime lead. After Mary Washington stormed back with a flurry in the second half, Lichty broke the deadlock with a rocket to the back of the cage just four minutes into the second overtime.

The victory moves CNU to 9-1 on the season, while the setback marks the first of the year for the Eagles, who fall to 11-1.

After Mary Washington capped its second-half scoring surge with four minutes remaining in regulation when Caitlin Baker knotted the game at two, the CNU defense came together. Jamie Dowling made a crucial save with just over a minute left in the second half to send the contest into overtime.

In the extra session, Dowling withstood a barrage of shots early, making four saves during the first five minutes. Later, with Mary Washington continuing to keep the pressure on the CNU defense, Jordan Snider swooped in and made a fabulous defensive save with nine seconds left in the first overtime to keep the game knotted at two.

In the second overtime, the Eagles kept the Captains on their heels, holding the ball in the CNU zone. Once again, Dowling and her defensive unit continued to stifle every run. Just two minutes into the frame, the senior keeper stoned a pair of shots before her offense found its legs.

On a break into the Eagle zone, Tunstall dished to Lichty, who found and opening and unloaded a rocket past goalie Claire Gianelle, which capped the victory and sent the CNU sideline into frantic jubilation.

The victory extended CNU's winning streak to seven games. That roll is the longest by the Captains since reeling off a 10-game run in 2010.

Early in the game, the Captain attack set the tone. Before helping set up the game-winning score, Tunstall opened the scoring less than two minutes into the contest. After Lindsay Hendricks fed in a penalty corner, Shelby Judkins tossed a perfect pass to Tunstall, who ripped a rocket into the cage at 1:21 in the first half.

After that, the Captains kept up the tempo and continued to test Gianelle. The Eagle goalie faced an onslaught in the middle of the first half, but she made six straight saves to keep her deficit at one. Later, after Dowling clamped down on a Mary Washington run, CNU quickly responded and extended its lead.

This time, Breanne Lowe found Lichty, who blasted a bullet into the back of the cage with less than five minutes remaining in the first half to give the Captains a 2-0 advantage.

After halftime, the two teams battled back and forth before Mary Washington picked up the pace. At the 52-minute mark, the Eagles fired a pair of shots, but Dowling kicked aside both attempts. Keeping the ball in the CNU zone, UMW regrouped before Jenna Steele found Christie Downie, who deposited a shot just outside of Dowling's reach at 54:23.

With their lead cut in half, the CNU offense went back to work. The Captains fired a pair of shots in rapid succession at the 63-minute mark, but Gianelle handled both attempts. Later, another Christopher Newport rocket went just wide before Mary Washington recovered and stormed down the field.

With time running out, the Eagles made one last run. At 66:31, Caitlin Baker found a little space and notched a shot that eluded Dowling and knotted the game at two. Later, after UMW kept up the attack, Dowling made one last save to send the game into overtime.

Dowling finished the game with 10 saves, while Gianelle had nine for the Eagles. Mary Washington held a slim 20-16 advantage in shots and a 13-9 lead in corners.

Christopher Newport will return to action on Sunday when the squad hosts Bridgewater at 2 p.m.

---CNU---