ASHLAND, Va. -- Following a 12-day layoff, the Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team will return to action on Wednesday at 7 p.m. when the Captains head to Randolph-Macon for a non-conference showdown with the Yellow Jackets at Day Field.
After weather wreaked havoc on CNU's schedule last week, the Captains have not seen game action since a thrilling 13-9 victory over No. 15 Washington & Lee in the season opener on February 13. On the flip-side, Randolph-Macon has already played three games this year and currently sits at 1-2 on the season.
A longstanding rivalry, the Captains and Yellow Jackets have faced off eight times dating back to the first year of the CNU program. R-MC currently holds a 6-2 lead in the all-time series, but Christopher Newport has won the previous two bouts. Last year, the Captains pulled out an 11-10 victory on a last-second goal by
Aaron Chrzaszcz in Newport News.
During the squad's opener two weeks ago,
John Thompson kicked off his senior campaign with a magnificent effort. Earning CAC Offensive Player of the Week accolades, he scored five goals, including three in the fourth quarter. Showing off a well-balanced attack,
Brooks Billings and
Joey Rolando also contributed four points apiece, while
Alex Barber tacked on a pair of goals.
On the defensive side of the ball,
Matt Hayden earned the victory after compiling nine saves, while
Brandon Moloney led the team with five ground balls and two caused turnovers.
Tony Cruz also had a solid debut for the Captains and won nine faceoffs to go along with three ground balls against the Generals.
Guided by those efforts in the opener, the Captains earned recognition in the latest USILA National Coaches Poll. For the second time in program history, CNU received votes and currently sits just outside of the top-20 nationally.
Randolph-Macon enters Wednesday on a two-game skid after posting a 10-8 triumph over Piedmont in the team's opener on February 14. On Sunday, the Yellow Jackets dropped a 10-6 decision to Catholic following an 11-7 setback to Mary Washington on February 18.
So far this season, R-MC has been paced by Ryan Davidson, who boasts seven goals and nine points. Coleman Adams has also scored four times for the squad, while Sam Mayer has accumulated a team-high three assists. Additionally, Brian Davies has a 9.67 goals-against average during his time between the pipes, while Nick Benhoff has won exactly half of his 52 faceoffs this season.
Following Wednesday's game, Christopher Newport will remain on the road for a 2 p.m. clash at Hampden-Sydney on Saturday.
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