ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. -- After St. Mary's forced overtime with a late goal in regulation, the 14th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team regrouped and landed the final blow as Lisa Murphy hammered home the game-winner with less than five minutes remaining in the extra session to lift the Captains to a 3-2 victory on Thursday evening at Seahawk Stadium.
 
Murphy's overtime heroics were set-up by Brittan Muir, who assisted on the game-winner and played a crucial role in all three of CNU's goals. The freshman phenom also assisted on a strike by Josie Morgan to open the scoring in the first half before driving home her own goal early in the second stanza.
 
In addition to her offensive exploits, Muir helped lead a solid defensive effort by the Captains. Bailey Lien earned the victory after making four stops for CNU, and Lauren Reinaman chipped in with a crucial defense save in the second half. Muir and Kana Hashigami also excelled on the back line to limit the Seahawks' opportunities.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 8-1 on the season, including 2-0 in CAC action. The setback drops St. Mary's to 5-5 with an 0-1 mark in league play.
 
After the Seahawks forced overtime with a goal in the 67th minute, the hosts were able to uncork the first shot in the extra session before the Captains took over and kept the pressure on the SMC defense. Madison Doss frustrated the Seahawks at midfield by breaking up a pair of clear attempts, while Cori Black showed some fancy stick work and curled around several defenders before unleashing a shot that whistled wide.
 
Continuing to attack, Carol Thompson and Lauren Cheatham both pumped on-target attempts, but each one was brushed aside by the St. Mary's goalie. Later, the Seahawks looked destined to break out of their defensive zone, but Muir had other plans. Playing back, she broke up the play and returned the ball to the SMC end before Christopher Newport earned a corner.
 
With just over five minutes left in the overtime period, Doss inserted the ball from the end line. Taking control, Muir stopped the roller and quickly fed the ball across the zone to Murphy, who settled on the right side of the circle. After corralling the pass, she blistered a screamer right through the St. Mary's defense to cap off the contest and give CNU the 3-2 victory.
 
The game marked Christopher Newport's first overtime bout since last year's CAC Championship. Meanwhile, it was St. Mary's fifth overtime game of the year. The Seahawks are now 1-4 in extra sessions this season.
 
Before CNU capitalized on sustained pressure in the overtime period, St. Mary's proved to be the aggressor early in the contest. From the outset, the Seahawks kept the Captains on their toes. Lien made back-to-back saves during a short SMC outburst, while Muir stepped up and cut off a pair of runs. Later, Lien made another tremendous stop to keep the hosts at bay before Morgan grabbed control of the ball and cleared the zone with a solid sprint up the near sideline.
 
After withstanding the early push by the Seahawks, Christopher Newport settled in on the offensive end. In the 26th minute, the visitors gave St. Mary's a glimpse of the future with a great look off a penalty corner. Samantha Snider inserted the ball to Muir, who settled at the top of the circle. Reading the defense, she sent a spinner over to Morgan on the far side of the field. With a clean look, she unleashed a rocket into the back of the cage for her second goal of the season.
 
Although St. Mary's was able to even the score off a penalty stroke just two minutes later, the Captains shrugged off the momentary setback. Closing out the first half, Morgan and Muir both unloaded shots that were batted away by the SMC keeper before CNU regrouped at halftime.
 
Early in the second half, Black and Courtnie Greene built a wall at midfield while intercepting a pair of passes. Even though ensuing shots by Cheatham and Greene squirted wide, the pressure mounted on the SMC defense. Eventually, in the 43rd minute, CNU earned another corner. After running a little give-and-go from the top of the circle, Muir regained control and rifled a laser through the defense for her third strike of the season.
 
Staring at a 2-1 deficit, St. Mary's went on the attack, but Christopher Newport's defense pieced together a spectacular run. The Seahawks earned a pair of corners, but Murphy cleared the first attempt before Alexa Weaver broke up an initial shot off the second try. Although SMC kept control of the ball, Lien made a diving stop to break up a play along the far post before Reinaman stood tall between the pipes and came through with a phenomenal defensive save to keep the hosts in-check before Lien regained her footing.
 
Following a brief respite, the CNU defense faced another SMC charge. First, Muir caught up to a streaking Seahawk and poked the ball away before picking off another roller along the near sideline. Later, Hashigami came through with a tremendous run. The second-year star ran stride-for-stride with an SMC forward on a great ride before Sarah Miller was able to clear the zone. Shortly thereafter, Hashigami raced back on another breakaway and put just enough pressure on the opposition to force an errant shot that helped CNU sustain its 2-1 edge.
 
After dodging several solid looks by St. Mary's, Christopher Newport attempted to ice the game late in the period. Muir and Bailey Whitaker both had attempts kicked away before Black ripped a pair of shots that were handled by the SMC defense in the 66th minute.
 
With time running down, St. Mary's called for a timeout with four minutes left in regulation. Unfortunately, the stoppage paid immediate dividends for the hosts as the Seahawks managed to find an opening less than a minute after returning to the field to knot the score at two.
 
Back on even ground, CNU tried to end the game in regulation. Moira Wright kept the ball in the SMC zone and helped earn a corner with three minutes remaining, but the ensuing shot scooted wide. Later, Doss took on a pair of Seahawks in a scrum along the sideline and forced a wayward pass, which Reinaman picked off near midfield. With one final attempt, the Captains earned a corner and Murphy peppered a shot, but St. Mary's was able to hang on and force overtime.
 
Despite the late stumble, Christopher Newport regrouped in the extra session as Murphy converted her very next attempt with a game-winning dart off a feed from Muir to seal the thrilling victory.
 
Overall, the Captains held a 22-15 edge in shots and a 10-6 lead in corners. Along with Lien's four saves for CNU, Alyssa Thompson made 10 stops for the Seahawks.
 
Christopher Newport will be back in action on Saturday when the team returns home for an 11 a.m. showdown with York (Pa.) at Captains Turf Field.
 
---CNU---