FROSTBURG, Md. -- The Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team dropped a 14-8 decision to Frostburg State during a Capital Athletic Conference battle on Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Stadium.

During the contest, Brooks Billings and Alex Barber both posted a pair of goals for CNU, while Will Geise contributed four points, including three assists. John Thompson also added a goal and an assist to help balance out the attack.

On the defensive end, Matt Hayden made 10 saves for the Captains, which marked his fourth double-digit save total of the season. Brandon Moloney also forced two turnovers, while Harrison Drier and Randy Foster both collected five ground balls.

With the setback, Christopher Newport falls to 6-3 on the season, including 1-1 in the CAC. The victory bumps Frostburg State to a pristine 11-0 with a 3-0 mark in league action.

The game got off to a good start for the Captains as Thompson put the visitors on the board quickly. Entering the game tied for the league-lead with 25 goals, the senior standout quickly tacked on another as he unleashed a dart in the first two minutes of action to give CNU the edge.

With an early advantage, the defense looked to protect the lead with a suffocating 11-minute stretch. During the spotless run, Brenden Dwyer forced a turnover, Foster cleaned up with a pair of ground balls, and Hayden made three saves to silence the FSU attack until the final minutes of the opening period.

Still staring at a one-goal deficit, Frostburg State quickly flipped the script in the last two minutes of the first quarter. During a back-breaking surge, the Bobcats scored three straight goals to snatch a 3-1 lead to close out the period.

Looking to keep the momentum, the hosts tossed another goal on the board in the first 30 seconds of the second period to put the Captains on their heels. Needing to respond before the deficit grew any larger, CNU retaliated. Bolstered by the pinpoint passing of Geise, Barber and Gregory Limon drove home back-to-back goals to claw within one at 4-3.

Unfortunately, the Bobcats shot back with another late rally at the end of the second stanza. Although Hayden came through with a pair of saves and Michael Mabry clamped down on another run with a caused turnover, the hosts were able to score the final two goals of the first half to steal a 6-3 edge entering the break.

Although Billings and Dave Magdeburger teamed up for an early goal in the second half, Frostburg State never lost its rhythm. The squad scored five of the first six goals to open the third on the way to a commanding 11-4 advantage with seven minutes remaining in the period.

Facing a seven-goal deficit, the Captains began to chip away at FSU's lead. Barber and Joey Rolando both snapped off strikes at the tail end of the third quarter to pull back within five. However, Frostburg State never let CNU get any closer. After blanking Christopher Newport's attack over the final four minutes of the third, the Bobcats answered with two goals of their own to start the fourth on the way to a 13-6 lead.

Still battling, Geise assisted on a goal by Billings and took advantage of a solid feed from Thompson to add his own tally with eight minutes remaining in regulation. Unfortunately, the FSU defense had enough left to quiet any thoughts of a comeback as Tom Kraemer made five straight saves for the Bobcats before his attack added one final goal to close out the 14-8 victory.

Overall, Frostburg State held a slim 38-37 edge in shots and a 40-38 lead in ground balls. The hosts also won 15 of the game's 26 faceoffs and converted 22 of their 24 clear attempts.

Christopher Newport will return to action on April 1 for a 7 p.m. battle at Mary Washington.

---CNU---