NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Sarah Miller ripped a second-half goal and Savanah Cummings anchored a suffocating defensive effort as the Christopher Newport field hockey team took down Wesley, 1-0, during a Capital Athletic Conference battle on an overcast Saturday afternoon at Captains Turf Field.

During the game, Miller rifled her second goal of the season off a feed from Madison Doss to give the Captains all the scoring they would need. Cummings handled the rest between the pipes as the sophomore came through with her second straight shutout after making five saves against the Wolverines. Alexa Hendrickson also made a key defensive save to help blank Wesley.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 8-4 on the season and 1-1 in the CAC. The setback drops Wesley to 5-8, including 0-2 in league action.

Early in the game, the Wolverines proved to be the aggressor and tested the CNU defense with an unrelenting barrage. Although the Captains were able to muster the first two shots, Wesley responded with a vengeance. The visitors earned two straight corners, but the defense clamped down on both, including a nice stop by Miller on the near side of the field to keep the opposition from even attempting a shot.

Later, the Wolverines peppered the zone with an impressive assault. The squad punched five on-target shots during a 60-second burst, which put the Captains on their heels. Fortunately, the defense was up to the task as the unit brushed aside every attempt, including four crucial saves by Cummings. The second-year standout was a wall in front of the cage and withstood the attack before her offense went to work.

Giving their defense a breather, Riley Keeter and Moira Wright opened things up with two on-target shots that were batted away. Later, Alexa Weaver whistled a blast from the far side of the field that just missed catching the corner of the cage with 11 minutes left in the half. Still looking for an opening, the CNU attack continued to put pressure on the Wolverines with one final push before halftime.

With just under six minutes left, Lisa Murphy sent a gorgeous pass to Belle Tunstall, who chipped a feed into the circle. Unfortunately, the roller squirted just wide before finding a stick. Two minutes later, Tunstall used a delicate touch to control the ball while scooting around a defender near the top of the arc. The senior eventually sent a clear feed to Taylor Williams, but her ensuing shot barely missed the cage to keep the game scoreless entering halftime.

Following a quiet first half, the Captains opened up the second period with a well-scripted play. After earning a corner, Doss inserted the ball to the top of the arc where Miller had settled. With a clean look, the sophomore corralled the roller and sent a screamer that cut right through the Wesley defense before tattooing the back of the cage for a 1-0 lead just two minutes into the half.

Searching for a little breathing room, the offense kept up the pressure. Wright and Allie Hackbarth drilled on-target attempts that were stoned by Wesley, while Tunstall made a nice run and spun past a defender but was eventually cut off by the deep back before managing a shot. Miranda Hept also had a dart batted away by the WC defense, which kept the Wolverines deficit at 1-0.

Although the CNU offense was unable to crack the scoreboard again, the clock quickly turned into an ally. With time running down, the Captains kept the Wolverines in-check and quieted any comeback attempts. In the final four minutes, Christopher Newport had its last offensive surge stymied after Murphy roped a shot that was stoned by a remarkable defensive save by Brooke Gannon.

After that point, the CNU defense took over and ran the final few ticks off the clock. Williams and Mackenzie Neylon did a solid job pinning the ball against the near sideline to help milk the clock and seal the one-goal victory.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 14-7 lead in shots and an 11-5 edge in corners. Cummings finished with five saves for CNU, while Sarah Daniels matched that effort for Wesley.

The Captains will be back in action on Tuesday when the squad treks to Salisbury for a 6 p.m. showdown with the top-ranked Sea Gulls.

---CNU---