Box Score

SALISBURY, Md. – Despite a valiant effort by the 15th-ranked Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team, including a record-tying performance by Ashton Marshall, the Captains could not keep their historic run going as the squad saw its 2013 campaign come to an end with a 17-5 setback against No. 2 Salisbury during the second round of the NCAA Tournament on a soggy Saturday afternoon at Sea Gull Stadium.

After picking up the program's first-ever postseason victory on Wednesday, CNU could not quite keep its roll going as the squad succumbed to the host Sea Gulls. The setback drops the Captains to 18-3 on the season, which still stands as a program best for victories and winning percentage. Salisbury remains unbeaten at 20-0 and advances to the Regional Finals.

During the game, Marshall led the offense with four points, including a pair of goals. With those two scores, she bumped her season total to 76, which matches the program record set by Kaitlyn Quigley during the 2010 campaign. Becca Geist also scored twice, while Elena Obregon added one goal to round out the attack.

Controlling the possession and tempo early in the first half, the Sea Gulls got off to a fast start as Katie Bollhorst scored once and chipped in with two assists on the way to a 4-0 lead at 24:18. Although the Captains called a timeout to break up the momentum, the stoppage did little as the hosts tacked on two quick scores in the next two minutes to push their lead to six.

Staring at a daunting deficit, CNU pieced together its finest offensive run of the first 10 minutes after Monica Evans forced a turnover and cleared midfield. Eventually, Kelly Lane probed the zone before finding Marshall. With the ball, the junior dished to Obregon, who secured the pass, went streaking towards the goal, and unloaded a rocket to put the Captains on the board.

Refusing to let the visitors gain any momentum, Salisbury went back to work. Although the Sea Gulls fired a few off-target shots and hit the post twice, the Captains could not clear the zone. With a few too many opportunities, the hosts continued to extend their lead with three more goals, including the fourth of the game by Lauren Feusahrens, to grab a 9-1 edge at the 14-minute mark.

Down by eight, Marshall showed off her offensive chops once again to chip away at the deficit. Following a ground ball pick-up by Caitlin Osbourne, CNU successfully broke through the stout Salisbury midfield before Marshall took control. With a clean run, the junior unleashed a bullet past SU's Ashton Wheatley to pull the squad back within seven.

After Salisbury responded with another goal, Marshall once again served as the facilitator on the next CNU score. On the play, the USA South Player of the Year circled around the edge of the zone, stepped back, and fired a rope through the circle to Geist. Making an excellent cut on the nearside of the goal, the senior wiggled free and snapped off the Captains' third score of the game.

Keeping the seesaw affair going late in the half, Salisbury answered with the final two goals of the period despite a nice play by Hanna Slough. In the midst of the Sea Gull surge, the Captain keeper stood up against a one-on-one run by Feusahrens. Although the SU speedster had a clear look, Slough stoned the blast with a nice stick save to keep the hosts off the board.

Following halftime, Marshall did her best to get the Captains back in the game, but her efforts came up short. During the first five minutes, she earned a free-position attempt, which went just high, and uncorked a tracer at point-blank range, but Salisbury's All-American goalie made the stop. After surviving the CNU runs, Salisbury pushed its lead to double-digits with a goal by Maggie Roundy.

Trailing 13-3, Geist and Lauren King orchestrated the nicest offensive play of the game for Christopher Newport. Standing just outside the Salisbury zone, Geist fed a quick pass to King at the top of the arc. Running a perfect give-and-go, Geist rolled around her teammate, secured the return feed, and fired a dart from 10-feet out to pull the visitors back within nine.

Unfortunately, Salisbury responded with a vengeance. During a four-minute stretch, the hosts secured their second running clock of the game with a three-goal burst to grab a 16-4 edge at 18:30.

Showing heart and a dignified determination, the Captains continued to battle hard. With just over 12 minutes left, Marshall matched the scoring mark after finding some breathing room just inside the zone before driving home her second goal of the contest. After that point, Salisbury closed the door and eased into the win.

Over the final 10 minutes, the Sea Gulls tacked on one last goal, while Wheatley made two tremendous saves on lasers by Marshall and Emily Johnson to clinch the 12-goal triumph.

During the game, Salisbury out-shot Christopher Newport, 33-11, and held a 21-14 edge in ground balls. The two squads were pretty even on draws with the hosts controlling 13 of the 24 attempts.

The setback not only capped off Christopher Newport's outstanding 2013 campaign but it also marked the end of an incredible run by CNU's record-setting senior class. Together, Evans, Geist, Lane, King, Stephanie Green, Rachel Tomlinson, and Grace Valentine posted a 59-20 all-time record, becoming the most successful class in program history.

---CNU---