NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Eight different Captains registered at least one goal, including hat-tricks by Meaghan Galvin and Kylie Chaplin, as the Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team stormed past Lebanon Valley, 15-5, during a non-conference battle on a frosty Saturday afternoon at Captains Turf Field.
 
During the contest, Galvin led the squad with seven points, including four goals. Two of her strikes came on eight-meter attempts, which bumped her career total to 33 free-position goals. That moves her into a tie for the top spot on the program's all-time list, equaling the record established by Meghan Harkey and matched by Ashton Marshall.
 
Along with Galvin's explosive performance, Chaplin added a hat-trick and forced two turnovers, while Lindsay Weaver and Caitlin King contributed a pair of goals as well. Meanwhile, on the defensive end, Mariah Ginebra posted five ground balls and two caused turnovers, and Emma Walsh earned the victory with 10 saves between the pipes.
 
With the win, Christopher Newport improves to 3-1 on the season. The setback drops Lebanon Valley to 2-2.
 
From the outset, the Captains set the tone and lit up the scoreboard with an impressive assault. Galvin scored her two free-position goals in the first five minutes of action and also played a role in two other tallies. First, she took a draw and pushed the ball forward before Sarah Culver scooted free and grabbed the roller. On a dead sprint, the freshman scrambled right past the last remaining line of defense before unleashing a dart to continue the early onslaught.
 
Shortly thereafter, following an acrobatic save by Walsh, Galvin took possession again and settled along the near post. With the defense scrambling, Maria Gianelle broke free and cut towards the crease before securing a pass on the way to the squad's fourth goal. Less than 20 seconds later, Christopher Newport tacked on another strike as Chaplin joined the fun with a free-position rocket to snatch a 5-0 lead heading into a Lebanon Valley timeout.
 
Although the stoppage paid immediate dividends as the Dutchmen came back with their first goal, Tess D'Arcy responded with a breathtaking run. First, the sophomore rode an attacker through the zone to prevent a pointblank shot. Just moments later, she brought the hammer down on the far side of the field to force a turnover. After grabbing the loose ball, she cleared the zone and rolled into the LVC end.
 
With possession, the Captains eventually worked the ball around before Catie Chess connected with Galvin, who secured the pass and laced a one-timer on the run to retake a five-goal lead midway through the first half.
 
Following D'Arcy's defensive heroics, the entire squad stepped up and locked down the Dutchmen. Ginebra pestered an attacker before forcing an off-balance shot, which Walsh easily snatched. Later, the freshman showed incredible instincts and stoned back-to-back eight-meter attempts.
 
Still rolling on the defensive end, the Captains were hit with a yellow card, but Chaplin quickly intercepted a pass at midfield with five minutes left to help eliminate the man-down situation. Walsh also came back with two more free-position saves during a late surge by Lebanon Valley before the CNU attack landed the final blow of the first half.
 
Shortly before the break, the Captains settled in on the offensive end. Hoping to add a little more wiggle room, Galvin found open spaces on the near side of the field. With room to work, she dropped a looping rainbow over the LVC defense, which Chaplin quickly corralled and converted into the team's seventh goal to nail down a 7-1 halftime lead.
 
Following the break, Christopher Newport continued to have its way on both sides of the ball. Weaver caught up to a streaking Dutchman before forcing a turnover with a textbook stick-check. Moments later, Galvin capitalized on the opportunity as she gained possession, wrapped around a defender, and whistled a sidewinder into the back of the net for an 8-1 advantage.
 
Continuing to pressure the Lebanon Valley defense, King muscled through the back line and fired her first goal of the year before Chaplin buried a bullet just under the crossbar on a free-position attempt. Looking to gain a running clock, Weaver locked up the 10-goal lead with a laser in the 38th minute to grab the 11-1 edge.
 
Although the Dutchmen momentarily halted CNU's run with their second goal, the Captains shook off the setback and retaliated. Continuing to shine, King came back with her second goal of the contest before Weaver did the same after bullying her way through contact in a cluttered zone on the way to a 13-2 advantage.
 
A few minutes later, after Lebanon Valley cut their deficit back down to 10, Christopher Newport fired back and put its precision passing on display. With 12 minutes remaining, Chess earned a free-position attempt. Rather than shooting, she dished to Sasha Towne, who curled around the near post and unloaded a dagger to the back of the cage for her first career goal. Less than a minute later, after Galvin controlled the ensuing draw, the junior pushed hard as the defense collapsed around her. With eyes on Galvin, she fed a rope to Julia Golden, who drove home the Captains' 15th and final tally.
 
Although the offense was done for the day, the defense had a little more work to do. Golden showed off her skills on both sides of the ball after forcing a turnover to clamp down on a Lebanon Valley run. Later, after Hanna Slough took over in goal, she brushed aside an eight-meter attempt before adding another save on a rocket after an attacker wiggled free inside the arc to lock up the 15-5 triumph.
 
Overall, CNU held a 29-21 edge in shots and a 25-19 lead in ground balls. Anchoring the defense, Ginebra, D'Arcy, Chaplin, Golden, Corbyn Hale, and Kirsten Mendelsohn all collected at least two ground balls and forced a turnover. Meanwhile, the Captains also controlled 13 of the game's 21 draws, including nine by Galvin.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on March 9 when the squad travels to Virginia Beach for a 4 p.m. showdown with Virginia Wesleyan.
 
---CNU---