FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Picking up the squad's second victory over a top-20 opponent in three days, the 14th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team won a crucial Capital Athletic Conference battle on Wednesday afternoon as the Captains took down No. 13 Mary Washington, 2-1, at the Battleground Turf Field.
 
After the Eagles tied the game early in the second half, Alexa Weaver came through with the clincher to seal the victory with just over 10 minutes remaining in regulation. Rachael Allshouse also opened the scoring with a strike in the first half, while Lauren Cheatham assisted on both goals. Meanwhile, on the other end, Bailey Lien anchored an impressive defensive effort and contributed four saves to earn the victory.
 
With the win, Christopher Newport improves to 12-2 on the season, including 4-0 in CAC action. The setback drops Mary Washington to 11-4 overall and 3-1 in league tilts. It also marks the Eagles' first home loss of the season.
 
After UMW evened the score with a tally in the 45th minute of action, the hosts continued to pressure the CNU defense. Standing up to the onslaught, Sarah Miller disrupted one pass before Courtnie Greene clamped down with a pair of tackles. Eventually, following the second stop, the freshman connected with Allshouse to clear the zone and flip the field.
 
With control, the Captains earned a pair of corners, but both attempts were brushed aside. Remaining vigilant, the squad continued to attack. After breaking up several UMW clear attempts, Christopher Newport found an opening. Cheatham roped a blast that was stoned by Mary Washington's goalie. However, Weaver stormed in and eventually knocked home a rebound off the keeper's pads to grab a 2-1 edge in the 60th minute.
 
Staring at a deficit, the hosts attempted to mount a comeback but ran up against a stout defensive unit. Shortly after CNU's goal, Miller made a tremendous tackle at midfield to take possession before sprinting into the UMW zone. Although the Eagles eventually regained control and found their way into the CNU end, Moira Wright swiped the ball back just before Mary Washington could unleash a shot from the near side of the field.
 
With time becoming an issue for the Eagles, UMW earned two straight corners in the 64th minute. Refusing to break, Weaver ran out of the cage and cleaned up the first attempt before the hosts could uncork a shot. On the second try, Mary Washington managed to snap off a dart, but Lien stood tall and batted the ball down with her blocker to keep the one-goal lead.
 
Following a timeout with less than four minutes remaining in regulation, Christopher Newport pieced together one final defensive stand. Lisa Murphy battled several Eagles on the far sideline and refused to give Mary Washington a clean run into the CNU zone. Although the hosts eventually worked their way into the circle, the Captains withstood the frantic final seconds as Lien came sprinting out of the cage and helped close off the Eagles' last-ditch effort to seal the victory.
 
Overall, Mary Washington held a 9-7 lead in shots during the game and a 13-4 advantage in corners. However, Christopher Newport was able to withstand UMW's extra opportunities with another stellar defensive effort.
 
Early in the game, the Eagles got off to a fast start and tested CNU's back line. Mary Washington ripped the first four shots of the contest, but Lien stoned a pair and the other two missed the mark. Shortly thereafter, the Captains found their grove in the middle of the period, but a bullet by Josie Morgan was stopped by the UMW goalie before a dagger by Carol Thompson whistled wide.
 
Continuing the back-and-forth battle, the hosts earned a corner in the 26th minute, but Weaver and Brittan Muir quickly met an Eagle attacker on the far side of the field and broke up the play before allowing a shot. Three minutes later, after Mary Washington had another deep run, the Captains countered.
 
In the 30th minute, Black took possession and threaded a pass to Allshouse, who cruised into the circle after splitting three defenders. Although the Eagles momentarily broke up the surge, Cheatham kept the ball in the circle and smacked a no-look, behind-the-back roller towards the goal. Showing great instincts, Allshouse came back and deflected the ball just enough to send it spiraling into the cage for her third goal of the season.
 
Although the Eagles retaliated early in the second half to even the score at one, the Captains never wavered. Eventually, Weaver drove home the go-ahead goal before the defense withstood Mary Washington's final push to ice the 2-1 victory.
 
Christopher Newport will be back in action on Saturday when CNU hosts Frostburg State in another CAC battle at 11 a.m.
 
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