NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Battling throughout the game, the 15th-ranked Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team kept pace with No. 4 Salisbury before the Sea Gulls inched ahead in the second half and eventually pulled out the 13-6 victory during a Capital Athletic Conference showdown on a chilly Tuesday evening at Captains Turf Field.
 
The Captains fought to a 5-5 tie at halftime before SU found its rhythm in the second half. In a testament to the impressive performance by CNU early in the game, Tuesday's matchup marked only the second time since 2010 that the Sea Gulls did not hold a halftime lead against a conference opponent - a remarkable run spanning 43 league games over the past six seasons.
 
Putting together a game for the ages, Emma Walsh collected 17 saves and four ground balls against the Sea Gulls. Her 17 stops equaled the second-highest single-game total by a freshman at CNU. It also ties the seventh-highest total by any player in program history.
 
Also making history of her own on Tuesday, Meaghan Galvin collected three draw controls against SU, which bumped her total to 74 this year. That broke her own single-season record of 73, which she established during her sophomore campaign. Overall, the junior standout now holds three of the program's top-five single-season draw control efforts.
 
Along with the history-makers, Sarah Culver registered a pair of goals for the Captains, while Mariah Ginebra helped anchor a strong defensive effort with two ground balls and a caused turnover.
 
With the setback, Christopher Newport falls to 10-2 on the season, including 4-1 in league action. The victory moves Salisbury to 12-1 on the year and 6-0 in CAC play.
 
At the start, the Sea Gulls were able to toss the first three goals on the board, but CNU quickly set the tone for the rest of the afternoon. The Captains made the opposition work hard for every score and frustrated SU with a tremendous defensive effort on clears. Sam Puglisi bullied a midfielder with relentless pressure to force an unsettled situation early in the contest. Later, Lindsay Weaver caused a turnover when the defense collapsed on another clear attempt to keep Salisbury on its heels.
 
Shortly thereafter, Christopher Newport went to work on the offensive end.
 
Midway through the half, Catie Chess found herself staring at a wall of SU defenders on the far side of the field. Looking to make things happen, she cut hard and bulled right through the back line before whistling a dart to put CNU on the board. Minutes later, after Salisbury responded, the Captains found their groove.
 
With 13 minutes left in the first stanza, Galvin controlled the ball at the top of the zone before Colleen Bourgal slipped free on the interior with a great run through the defense. After corralling the pass, the second-year star lined a rocket to the back of the net to cut the lead in half. One minute later, Culver kept things rolling as the freshman used a devastating cut to send a defender spinning. With some freedom, she dove towards the crease while punching home her first goal of the game.
 
Although Salisbury was able to answer and snatch a 5-3 edge, the CNU defense settled in again. Ginebra bodied up an attacker and forced a turnover to flip the field. Walsh also made a save after Corbyn Hale kept the Sea Gulls from getting a good look at the cage to keep the deficit at two with six minutes remaining.
 
With time running down on the first half, the Captains stepped up with one last push to even things at five. First, Weaver circled a defender at the top of the zone before scorching the cage with a laser just under the crossbar. Minutes later, Puglisi took possession behind the crease and showed patience before finding Kylie Chaplin, who worked free and snapped off the squad's fifth goal to even things heading into the break.
 
After halftime, Salisbury was able to toss the first two goals on the board, but CNU continued its defensive pressure. Kirsten Mendelsohn rode a Sea Gull around the zone to prevent a shot, while Walsh made two saves, including a tremendous stop on a free-position attempt.
 
Shortly after Walsh stoned an eight-meter shot by the Sea Gulls, Culver converted one for the Captains. With 22 minutes left, the first-year standout earned a free-position attempt from the top of the arc. With a clean look, she sailed a low liner past the SU keeper to pull Christopher Newport back within one at 7-6.
 
Although the visitors were able to respond and slowly pull ahead, the Captains made them earn every inch. Puglisi put together a spectacular run as she pushed an attacker around the crease, followed her to the far side of the field, and continued frustrating her until she finally passed the ball. Moments later, Tess D'Arcy also closed off a run to eliminate another scoring opportunity.
 
Equally ferocious in all facets of the game, Galvin took a draw with 17 minutes left, battled through contact, and earned possession after winning a scrum at midfield to secure her record-setting 74th draw control of the season.
 
Despite a three-goal push by Salisbury late in the period, which put the game out-of-reach, Walsh was still a magician between the pipes. She stoned another free-position attempt before adding a highlight-reel save to close things out. After CNU failed to clear the zone, a Sea Gull broke free. After sprinting around the cage, the attacker ripped a pointblank rocket, but Walsh was up to the challenge and brushed aside the shot to end the threat.
 
During the game, Salisbury out-shot CNU, 36-15, and held a 21-12 edge in ground balls. Meanwhile, the Captains led the way on draws as the hosts controlled 12 of 21. Along with Galvin's three, Weaver and Maria Gianelle added a pair of draw controls as well.
 
Christopher Newport will be back in action on Saturday when the Captains travel to Arlington for a 2 p.m. battle with Marymount.
 
---CNU---