GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team capitalized on an opportunistic attack and another solid defensive effort to post its fourth straight victory as the Captains took down Guilford, 13-6, in a non-conference battle on Saturday afternoon at the Armfield Athletic Center.
 
During the contest, the Captains converted three Guilford penalties into four man-up tallies, including three in the fourth quarter. Overall, Matthew Crist contributed four goals for CNU, while Ryan Mills starred as the facilitator with five assists. That total ranks fourth on the program's all-time single-game list.
 
Meanwhile, on the defensive end, Trevor Royce brutalized the Quakers with three caused turnovers, while Matt Hayden contributed seven saves to earn the victory. Tony Cruz did his normal work on faceoffs as well, winning 14 of his 21 battles.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 4-1 on the season. The setback drops Guilford to 1-3.
 
Although the Captains got off to a solid start with a quick goal by Will Geise, the Quakers responded with an intimidating run. The hosts drove home the next four goals in the first quarter before Geise helped bookend the period with an assist on a bullet by Dave Magdeburger to pull within 4-2 entering the second stanza.
 
Looking to make a statement, CNU simply dominated the second period. Rifling a barrage of shots, Randy Foster eventually converted with help from Mills. Less than 50 seconds later, after Cruz picked up the ensuing faceoff, Crist laced a screamer to the back of the net off a feed from Shane McKenna to pull even at four entering a Guilford timeout.
 
Following the stoppage, the defense stepped up for the Captains. Royce forced a turnover, which led to a sustained run by the CNU attack. Although the squad was unable to break the deadlock, Hayden brushed aside a shot by Guilford before the visitors earned their first man-up opportunity.
 
With seven minutes left in the half, the Quakers were nailed for a slash. Looking to convert, Crist unloaded an initial shot that spun high before capitalizing on his second chance. Once again, Mills set up the score after dishing back to Crist, who slammed home his second goal to snatch a 5-4 lead.
 
Looking for a little more breathing room, Christopher Newport continued to poke and prod at the Guilford defense. First, Geise stretched the lead to two off a pass from Dave Magdeburger before Mills came back with his third assist on a tracer by Drew Magnusson to steal a 7-4 lead entering the break.
 
After halftime, Guilford picked up the pressure. Unleashing a relentless attack, the Quakers eventually managed to find an opening and tack on their fifth goal. However, the Captains had an immediate response. Following another caused turnover by Royce, Hayden grabbed the roller and helped clear the zone. In control, Mills and Crist continued to pick apart the defense as the two teamed up for another goal to push the lead to 8-5.
 
Hoping to mount a response, the hosts went on the attack once again, but Hayden was unimpressed. The junior made four saves in the final four minutes, including a pair of back-to-back darts, to keep the three-goal lead entering the fourth quarter.
 
In the final stanza, Crist capped off his afternoon with a bullet off a feed from Magdeburger in the first minute of action. Later, after Guilford retaliated, the Captains pieced together an electric rally in the final few minutes after the hosts were hit with a non-releasable penalty.
 
With a full minute of man-up play, Magdeburger made the Quakers pay. First, he found Joey Rolando, who pumped his first goal of the game. Moments later, he came back with a strike of his own off a pass from Mills to push the lead to 11-6 with three minutes left in regulation.
 
Fittingly, after a third penalty on Guilford, the man-up unit added another bullet after Foster found daylight off a feed from Geise. With little left to prove, the Captains tossed one more goal on the board with 70 seconds remaining as Andrew Ashley connected with Will Ervin, who dropped in his first goal of the year to cap off the 13-6 triumph.
 
Overall, CNU held a commanding 42-27 edge in shots, while Guilford led the way in ground balls, 25-21. The Captains also won 15 of the game's 23 faceoffs to help control possession and put away the Quakers.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on March 16 when the squad travels to Salem, Virginia for a battle with No. 10 Roanoke at 7 p.m.
 
---CNU---