Box Score

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team saw its two-game roll come to an end as CNU dropped a hard-fought 8-2 decision to Ithaca on a blustery Thursday evening at Captains Turf Field.

Despite the setback, the Captains received several strong efforts during the game, including a 14-save performance by Andy McGregor. Ari Elgort also won eight of his 10 faceoff attempts, while John Thompson and Alex Barber provided the support on the offensive end with a goal apiece.

The loss drops CNU to 4-3 on the season, while Ithaca remains unbeaten at 4-0. The Bombers, a perennial power in the Empire 8 Athletic Conference, are currently receiving votes in the latest USILA National Coaches Poll.

Early in the game, both defenses came to work. McGregor stoned four rockets in the first seven minutes of the game for CNU, while the Bombers kept the hosts off-balance and withstood an early barrage by the Captains. Later, after Christopher Newport earned a man-up situation, the squad continued its assault. Unfortunately, Ithaca's Scott Sidnam was up to the task, making a slew of saves to keep the game scoreless after the first period.

In the second, the Bombers got on a bit of a roll. Just two minutes into the stanza, Brandon Henne lit up the scoreboard first after capitalizing off of a pass by Connor Lowe. Later, after the Captains staved off three straight man-down situations, the visitors caught fire. Jake Long gave the Bombers a two-goal lead at 2:48 before Pat Slawta capped off the first-half scoring with a tally just over one minute later.

Following the break, Ithaca came out strong again in the third. Ryan Burns peppered the CNU defense with a relentless assault before finally breaking through at 9:53. Now down 4-0, the Captains refused to quit and regrouped behind the spectacular effort of Elgort.

Nearly unstoppable at faceoffs, Elgort went 5-for-5 in the third period, helping CNU orchestrate a comeback. Barber got things going after capitalizing on an assist by Aaron Chrzaszcz. Although Ithaca responded with a goal of its own, Elgort continued his domination. The senior sensation won the ensuing faceoff with ease, stormed straight into the Bombers' zone, and found Thompson, who unleashed a dart into the back of the net.

Back within three at 5-2, the CNU defense clamped down. Chase Walton caused a turnover and McGregor stood tall against a pair of Ithaca shots to keep the Bombers off the board during the waning moments of the third frame.

Unfortunately for the Captains, the fourth period was all Ithaca. Long scored his second goal of the game just 36 seconds into the quarter before Slawta and Joe Perkins teamed up for the Bombers' seventh goal a mere two minutes later.

Back down by five, Christopher Newport refused to give up but had a difficult time breaking through the stout Ithaca defense. Eventually, with just over five minutes remaining in regulation, the visitors iced the game after Slawta and Perkins joined forces once more to close out the scoring.

Overall, Ithaca out-shot the Captains, 42-28, and held a 28-23 advantage in ground balls. Led by Elgorts' efforts, CNU won nine of the 14 faceoffs. McGregor finished with a game-high 14 saves, while Sidnam had 11 for Ithaca.

Christopher Newport will be back in action on Sunday when the squad continues its four-game homestand with a 1 p.m. battle against Frostburg State.

---CNU---