Box Score

ASHLAND, Va. -- For the second straight game, Lauren Cheatham paced an explosive offensive attack as the sixth-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team extended its winning streak to nine with a 5-2 victory over Randolph-Macon on Sunday afternoon.

During the contest, Cheatham posted her third multi-goal effort of the year and also chipped in with an assist. Belle Tunstall also found the back of the cage for the seventh time this season, while Shelby Judkins and Allie Hackbarth rounded out the scorers.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to a pristine 9-0 on the year. Randolph-Macon falls to 3-4.

Entering Sunday's match-up as one of only five teams in the nation that had yet to trail in a game, Christopher Newport showed off its steely resolve after the Yellow Jackets opened the scoring less than seven minutes into regulation. Staring at their first deficit all year, the Captains never flinched and responded immediately.

Fittingly, Cheatham was the first to retaliate. Just 40 seconds after the hosts opened the scoring, CNU's sophomore speedster broke through. Sprinting into the RMC zone, she quickly pounded the back of the cage with her team-leading ninth goal of the year.

After the two squads traded early blows, the defenses settled in. Although both teams were able to generate scoring opportunities during the middle of the first period, Bailey Lien and Steph Talley kept their cages clean. Lien stoned an on-target blast shortly after Cheatham's score, while the Yellow Jackets' goalie kicked aside four shots by the Captains, including back-to-back darts by Tunstall.

With both teams looking for the lead, Christopher Newport finally found it during a nice run at the tail end of the first half. After the squad earned two straight corners, Alexa Hendrickson took control of the ball at 27:43. Following a nice defensive play in Saturday's contest, the sophomore showed off her offensive skills on Sunday as she sent a nice feed to Judkins, who knocked home her second goal of the year.

With newfound momentum, the Captains struck again just before the break. Looking for payback after her first two shots were set aside earlier in the period, Tunstall returned to the RMC zone and found an opening. With a quick flip, the junior banged through her seventh goal of the season, which also moved her into a tie for seventh place on the program's all-time points list.

Following the break, Randolph-Macon tried to retie the game with two early shots. Despite their momentary run, the Yellow Jackets were brushed aside as Lien closed the door on their first attempt before the defense clamped down on the second to keep the two-goal lead.

Still searching for a little more breathing room, Christopher Newport found some extra cushion with a quick outburst by Cheatham just over seven minutes into the second half. At 42:13, she served as the facilitator on Hackbarth's second goal of the year. One minute later, Cheatham fired an initial shot that was stopped by Talley. Refusing to give up on the play, Marlene Lichty eventually corralled the roller and sent it back to Cheatham, who blistered another bullet through the RMC defense for a 5-1 advantage.

Holding a comfortable lead, the Captains kept control of the tempo until the final few moments of regulation. With the victory all but sealed, Christopher Newport faced one last run by Randolph-Macon just before time expired. Julie Collins, who took over in the cage for CNU, made three stops during an impressive flurry late in the period. Although the Yellow Jackets eventually stung the visitors with a goal just five minutes before the final horn, the Captains eased into their ninth straight win.

CNU held a 14-11 edge in shots during the game, while RMC earned a 7-6 lead in corners. Talley finished with a game-high eight saves for the Yellow Jackets. Lien, Collins, and Savanah Cummings combined for five during their time in the cage.

Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday when the team kicks off Capital Athletic Conference play with a noon battle against Frostburg State at Captains Turf Field.

---CNU---