Box Score

LEXINGTON, Va. – Kylie Chaplin and Erin Callahan each recorded hat-tricks, while Meaghan Galvin posted the equalizer with seconds remaining in regulation, but the 16th-ranked Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team could not hold on in overtime as the Captains dropped a hard-fought 12-11 decision to Washington & Lee in the season opener on Sunday afternoon at Wilson Field.

Featuring a pair of NCAA Tournament participants from last season, the game was a back-and-forth affair. Neither squad led by more than two goals, and the score was knotted nine times before the final whistle. Eventually, the Generals notched the last blow with just 18 seconds remaining in overtime to seal the season-opening victory.

Callahan led the Captains with four points, including three goals. With that performance, she became the first freshman in CNU history to record a hat-trick in her collegiate debut. Kylie Chaplin also added three goals for CNU, while Galvin and Jessica Singer added a pair.

On the defensive end, Hanna Slough came through with 10 saves, including several crucial stops on free-position attempts. Katie Gaskin also led the way with three caused turnovers and five ground balls, while seniors Emily Johnson and Morgan Smith forced a pair of miscues as well.

Following a seesaw battle in the first half, which ended with Washington & Lee clutching a slim 6-5 advantage, Christopher Newport stumbled early in the second period but quickly regrouped. After the Generals secured their first two-goal edge of the game just moments after halftime, Singer responded. After a foul, the senior earned a free-position attempt and buried the shot to pull CNU back within one.

Although the Generals answered less than a minute later, the Captains remained unfazed and ripped off three straight goals to grab the lead. The surge started after Christopher Newport converted following an unusual series of events. After a foul by the Washington & Lee goalie, CNU earned an empty-net look off a free-position attempt. Although the ensuing shot squirted just wide, Callahan eventually collected the loose ball. From behind the net, she curled around the crease, rolled up along the far post, and blasted a bullet to pull the visitors back within one with 20 minutes remaining in the half.

Moments later, following a yellow card that put the Captains down a player, CNU battled hard and used stellar play on both ends of the field to keep the momentum. After the defense held up against the Washington & Lee attack, the Captains cleared the ball before Singer took control and unloaded a short-handed goal to knot the game at eight.

Back on even ground, Slough made a spectacular save to keep the game tied. With a General on the doorstep, the sophomore goalie stood up and denied a point-blank bullet. Shortly thereafter, she made another stop on a low rocket before Washington & Lee called for a timeout to regroup on the sidelines.

The stoppage did nothing to change the momentum as the Captains took the lead with 10:13 left in regulation.  Following a pair of clearing feeds by Slough and Gaskin, Chaplin picked up a clean run at the goal. Although her initial attempt was cut short by a General foul, the second-year standout earned another free-position attempt. Looking to complete her hat-trick, she quickly converted the shot from the arc to give the Captains their first advantage of the half at 9-8.

After Washington & Lee responded with back-to-back scores to retake the lead, the Captains benefited from some crucial late-game heroics from their freshmen. Callahan started the comeback after converting a free-position attempt with six minutes left. Later, Gaskin made a nice stick-check from behind to dislodge the ball on a clean look by the Generals. Although Washington & Lee eventually found an opening with 45 seconds left in the game to take a one-goal lead, Galvin had an answer.

With 15 seconds remaining in regulation, Smith forced a turnover after the Generals attempted to play keep-away to run out the clock. After Chaplin snatched the ground ball, Galvin took a feed and stormed towards the goal. Following a foul with just a few ticks remaining on the clock, the freshman earned another eight-meter attempt. From the top of the arc, Galvin charged in and slung a shot that bounced into the back of the net to even the game just before regulation expired.

Unfortunately, the bonus session was not as fruitful as the second half for the Captains. Neither team managed a shot during the first three minutes of overtime. Later, after switching sides, Washington & Lee controlled the draw and set up a play during a timeout. Running the clock down, the Generals eventually went to work with 20 seconds left. Needing a stop, CNU could not quite hang on as Margaret Klein slipped free and sealed the victory with her fourth goal of the game just before time ran out.

Overall, the Generals held a 28-19 lead in shots and a slim 25-23 edge in ground balls. Washington & Lee also controlled 16 of the game's 27 draws, while both squads committed 22 turnovers.

Similar to the end of the game, the first half was also a back-and-forth battle. Both squads traded blows throughout the opening period with Washington & Lee doing most of its damage off free-position attempts. The Generals scored four of their six first-half goals from the eight-meter mark, but the Captains continued to respond.

Ashton Marshall opened the scoring for CNU after driving home a feed from Singer in the seventh minute of action. Later, Chaplin collected her first two goals, including a tally off a gorgeous assist by Johnson, who snuck a perfect pass through some tight traffic in front of the goal in the middle of the period. Just over two minutes later, Galvin gave Christopher Newport its first lead after clearing her defender with a nice cut near the top of the arc before scoring off an assist by Callahan.

Later, after the Generals took back the lead with a pair of darts, Callahan continued her impressive debut with her first career goal coming with eight minutes left in the first half. Unfortunately, Washington & Lee answered with 24 seconds remaining in the period to enter halftime with a 6-5 lead. Although the Captains were able to overcome that deficit with an excellent second half, W&L persevered in overtime.

Christopher Newport will look to bounce back on Saturday when the squad kicks off its home slate with a 4 p.m. showdown against Roanoke at Captains Turf Field.

---CNU---