DOVER, Del. -- The 11th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team extended its winning streak to 13 games as the Captains picked up a first-half goal from Allie Hackbarth and utilized an outstanding defensive effort to post its seventh shutout of the season on the way to a 1-0 victory over Wesley on Saturday morning at Scott Miller Stadium.

During the contest, Hackbarth came through with the only goal CNU would need as Bailey Lien posted three stops, Jordan Snider notched a defensive save, and the rest of the squad clamped down on the Wolverine attack to secure the one-goal win.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 13-0 on the season, including 3-0 in Capital Athletic Conference action. The loss drops Wesley to 8-5 overall and 1-1 in the CAC.

Despite the early-morning wake-up call on Saturday, the Captains came out energized and tested the Wesley defense from every angle at the outset. Kicking off the assault, Snider and Kelsey Clark each fired on-target shots in the first four minutes of action, but WC's Sarah Daniels made a pair of stops. Later, after a bit of a defensive struggle, CNU unloaded again.

Just 10 minutes into the game, Christopher Newport bombarded the Wolverines. Although Daniels made two more stops and Madison Leone chipped in with a defensive save, the Captains never relented. Eventually, after two more shots scooted wide, Hackbarth demolished a blast from 25-yards out that ricocheted off a defender and found open spaces to give CNU a 1-0 edge at 13:01.

Staring at a sudden deficit, the hosts orchestrated their first scoring opportunity of the game. Three minutes after falling behind, Leone snapped off the first two shots for Wesley, but Lien closed the door on the first before Snider cleaned up the second with a dazzling defensive save to keep the Wolverines off the board.

Looking to expand their lead, the Captains pieced together one last blitz at the end of the first half. Turning to the team's leading scorers, CNU picked up a pair of late shots from both Lauren Cheatham and Belle Tunstall, but Wesley held up and survived the onslaught to keep the deficit at one entering halftime.

Following intermission, Christopher Newport continued to set the tone while challenging the Wesley defense at a breakneck pace. The Captains ripped eight of the first nine shots of the second half, including seven on-point. Although CNU was held scoreless during that stretch, which included six saves by Daniels, the visitors never let Wesley orchestrate a counter-strike.

Finally, with less than five minutes remaining, the Wolverines came through with one last ditch effort. In the final moments of regulation, Wesley poked three shots, but Lien stepped up and batted away the first two before the third dribbled wide to seal the 1-0 victory for the Captains.

During the game, CNU out-shot the hosts, 23-7, and held a minor 5-3 edge in corners. Lien eventually finished with three saves for the Captains, while Daniels came through with 12 for Wesley.

Christopher Newport will return to action on Wednesday when the Captains host No. 7 Salisbury at 6 p.m.

---CNU---