NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Scoring the final three goals of the game, including the go-ahead bullet by Joey Rolando, the Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team came away with a huge 9-6 victory over Hampden-Sydney during a thrilling non-conference battle on a chilly Saturday afternoon at Captains Turf Field.
 
Leading the attack, Rolando finished the contest with three goals for the Captains. Matthew Crist also added three points, including a goal and an assist in the final two minutes of regulation to seal the victory. Randy Foster contributed a pair of points to help balance out the offense as well.
 
Meanwhile, on the defensive end, Matt Hayden was nothing short of dominant between the pipes as the third-year star made 11 saves to earn the victory. Michael Mabry also forced three turnovers, while Harrison Drier caused a pair and added four ground balls.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 3-1 on the season. Hampden-Sydney, who entered the game receiving votes in the latest USILA National Poll, falls to 4-2 with the setback.
 
Although the game was a nail-biter at the end, the Captains stormed out to a fast lead as the squad imposed its will during the early action. Just a minute into the game, Rolando got things started as he wrapped around the entire HSC defense before whistling a rocket just inside the right pipe. A little over two minutes later, following a quick timeout by the Tigers, Foster added the squad's second strike with a screamer to take a fast 2-0 edge.
 
With the offense clicking, the defense rose to the occasion as well with a transcendent performance by Hayden. First, he made a pair of great saves, including an excellent read on a top-shelf shot following a quick wraparound by the Tigers. Shortly thereafter, following a pair of penalties on the Captains, Hayden added two more stops during the man-down situation, including an unbelievable save on a point-blank dart.
 
Although Hayden anchored the back end, the entire defense stepped up with a huge rally. Drier, Brandon Moloney, and Jake O'Connell all forced turnovers to keep the visitors on their heels before the CNU attack went back to work.
 
In the waning moments of the first period, Crist took control of the ball behind the crease. Needing to make things happen quickly, he pushed hard around the near post before rolling back to shake his defender. Following the ankle-breaking cut, he unleashed a gorgeous shot into the far corner of the goal to lock up a 3-0 lead entering the second quarter.
 
Looking to make a comeback, the Tigers whittled their deficit down to one with back-to-back strikes. Shaking off the setback, Geise responded as he caught the defense off balance before finding himself in a one-on-one situation. Liking the match-up, he took his defender and drove him deep into the zone before finishing with a dagger just under the crossbar to take a 4-2 lead.
 
Although the visitors were able to respond again, Dave Magdeburger added the final blow just before halftime as he unloaded a spinner to the back of the net off a feed from Foster to snatch a 5-3 edge entering the break.
 
Following halftime, the Tigers clawed back within one again, but the CNU defense continued to frustrate the opposing attack. Hampden-Sydney attempted a hidden ball-trick during a man-down situation, but Thomas Courtney read it perfectly and deflected the ensuing shot. Later, Mabry forced a turnover and Trevor Royce stopped a rocket with his chest to keep the one-goal lead.
 
Looking for a little breathing room, Rolando took a long feed at the top of the zone before spinning a defender and driving home his second goal of the contest with three minutes remaining in the third period.
 
Unfortunately, Hampden-Sydney was able to retaliate with just one second left on the clock in the third. Then, controlling possession early in the fourth, the visitors tacked on a man-up goal with 12 minutes remaining to pull even at six.
 
Refusing to let the Tigers inch ahead, Christopher Newport was able to withstand another shorthanded situation following two more penalties. Playing two men down, Hayden came through with another clutch save, while Mabry jumped on a loose ball to regain possession and help run out the penalties.
 
Still even at six with nine minutes remaining, Rolando had enough and broke the deadlock. Unfazed by contact, he simply battled straight through an HSC defender before firing a low dart into the corner of the goal to retake a 7-6 lead.
 
Looking to hang on, Drier and Foster both forced turnovers to regain control during a huge defensive stand. Later, after Hampden-Sydney took the ball back, the squad whistled for a timeout with five minutes remaining. Although the Tigers came out of the break and managed to register a pair of shots, the first soared high before Hayden grabbed the second.
 
Following the second stop, O'Connell took possession and attempted to clear the ball. Although the HSC midfield unit was in good position to stop the run, O'Connell simply lowered his shoulders, muscled up, and broke right through with a devastating blow to set up the CNU attack with three minutes remaining in regulation.
 
Still clutching a one-goal lead, Crist came through with a heads-up play to stretch the advantage. The sophomore laced an initial shot that was stopped by the Hampden-Sydney goalie, but he swooped in and grabbed the rebound before sprinting around the back of the crease. Still motoring, he came around the near post and blistered a pointblank dart to the back of the net to nail down an 8-6 lead with 1:53 remaining.
 
Trailing by two, Hampden-Sydney called for another timeout, but the stoppage did little to deter the Captains. On the ensuing faceoff, Tony Cruz won the battle cleanly and quickly dished to Crist. With two goals already in his pocket, he opted for the assist as he found Ryan Mills with a fast feed before the junior added the final nail to grab the 9-6 lead.
 
With time running out, the Captains were hit with two penalties in the final minute of action, but Hayden eventually grabbed control of the ball and Courtney pieced together a great clearing run to help whittle off the final few seconds and seal the three-goal victory.
 
Overall, CNU held a 42-37 advantage in shots, while Hampden-Sydney led the way in ground balls, 26-24. The Tigers were also able to win 10 of the game's 18 faceoffs, but nothing could stop the Captains. Even 12 penalties did not slow the hosts as CNU's man-down defense held up against the HSC attack.
 
Christopher Newport will now hit the road for a March 5 battle against Guilford in Greensboro, North Carolina. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
 
---CNU---