Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Aaron Chrzaszcz scored four times, while Billy Crist added three goals including the game-winner as the Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team picked up its second straight victory with a 14-13 triumph over Greensboro on Tuesday evening at Jamieson Stadium.

Chrzaszcz matched his season-high with four goals, while Crist and Parker Thompson each chipped in with three. John Thompson also added a five-point day, highlighted by a game-high four assists. On the defensive end, Andy McGregor notched 11 saves for the Captains. Chrzaszcz and Brenden Dwyer also caused a pair of turnovers apiece.

With the victory, CNU moves to 7-8 on the season, while Greensboro sits at 5-10. It marks the first time in over a month that Christopher Newport has won back-to-back bouts, climbing within one win of .500 heading into the last game of the regular season this weekend.

On even ground entering the fourth period, Greensboro quickly broke the deadlock when Maxx Aiken scored with just over 11 minutes remaining to give the Pride a 12-11 edge. Refusing to back down, Parker Thompson launched a rocket to the back of the net to even the game before Alex Barber converted a man-up opportunity, which gave the Captains a slim 13-12 advantage with eight minutes remaining.

With a late lead, McGregor did all that he could to keep the Pride off the board, stoning three straight shots during an impressive defensive stand. Although the onslaught eventually paid dividends for GC when Scott Schowalter snuck a shot past McGregor, the Captains kept battling. Just 90 seconds after Greensboro knotted the game at 13, Crist came through with the game-winner on a bullet with three minutes remaining in regulation.

After that point, Christopher Newport whistled for a timeout, got comfortable, and closed out the game in style. Controlling the clock, the Captains eventually earned another man-up advantage during the waning moments of the contest to help cap off the 14-13 victory.

Overall, CNU out-shot Greensboro 42-35, and held a 46-34 edge in ground balls. In addition to that, the Captains won 18 of the game's 30 faceoffs, including 17 by Ari Elgort. The fourth-year faceoff specialist also scooped up 10 ground balls during the contest, marking his finest effort of the season.

Before the fourth quarter, the game was a tale of two halves. During the first two periods, the Captains dominated. Just 21 seconds into regulation, the squad got off to a great start when Parker Thompson tacked on a quick goal. Although Greensboro responded and evened the score at one just two minutes later, Christopher Newport had an emphatic answer.

With just over 10 minutes remaining in the first period, CNU struck twice in rapid succession. On the first goal, John Thompson dished to Gregory Limon, who uncorked a rocket to break the deadlock. After Elgort won the ensuing faceoff, Chrzaszcz added his first goal of the game just 41 seconds after Limon's score.

Although the Pride regained a bit of the momentum and eventually tied the game again at three, the Christopher Newport attack found its rhythm in the waning moments of the first. Chrzaszcz opened the surge with his second goal of the period at 2:36 before Crist found an opening just 20 seconds later. Following a GC penalty, which gave CNU a man-up advantage, the Captains capitalized on the opportunity when Chrzaszcz capped off his first quarter hat-trick with a dart just seconds before the end of the frame.

After assisting on the final goal of the first period, John Thompson did his own damage to kick start the second. Following a nice set-up by Adam Abbate, the sophomore star unloaded a one-timer, which gave the visitors a 7-3 lead. Still on the attack, the Captains continued to test the GC defense with an unrelenting barrage. Although Greensboro's Mitchell Kanowicz was able to stop three straight shots, Alex Barber finally drilled one past him for an 8-3 edge at the eight-minute mark.

Although the Pride eventually scored in the final minute of the half to pull back within four, the Captains entered the break with all of the momentum. Unfortunately, they hit a bit of a rough patch in the third.

After the two teams traded a pair of goals during the opening minutes of the second half, Greensboro found its footing on the offensive end. Thomas Brooks scored a goal and added an assist to pull the hosts back within two at 10-8 with six minutes remaining in the period. Later, Ryan Kissner and Kyle Hughes scored on back-to-back shots to knot the game at 10 with 3:16 remaining in the third.

Despite a brief defensive stand by the Captains, which featured a caused turnover by Brad Picciolo and a nice save by McGregor, Maxx Aiken found some space and scored to give the Pride their first lead of the game at 11-10. Showing great resolve, CNU wasted little time battling back. Elgort immediately won the faceoff, and after a GC penalty, Chrzaszcz drove home his fourth goal on a man-up advantage to knot the game at 11 heading into the fourth.

Fortunately, CNU was able to keep a bit of that momentum and mustered enough offense in the final period to pull out the crucial victory.

Christopher Newport will be back in action on Saturday when the squad travels to Ferrum for a 1 p.m. battle against the Panthers.

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