NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Rachael Allshouse scored a pair of goals, while Josie Morgan contributed three points as the 14th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as CNU toppled Randolph-Macon, 4-0, on a humid Wednesday evening at Captains Turf Field.
 
Against the Yellow Jackets, Allshouse and Mackenzie Neylon teamed up for a pair of strikes, while Morgan and Madison Doss also found the back of the cage to anchor the CNU attack. Meanwhile, on the defensive end, the Captains continued their early-season success as the squad limited the opposition to just two shots while registering their third shutout of the 2016 campaign.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 5-0. The setback drops Randolph-Macon to 1-5.
 
Just two minutes into regulation, the Captains vaulted out to an early lead. Putting pressure on the Macon defense, Doss picked off a clearing attempt at the top of the circle and fed the ball to Morgan, who settled on the near side of the zone. Drawing the goalie out of the cage, she drilled an initial shot that was swallowed up by the Yellow Jackets but continued to battle.
 
With the goalie sprawled out on the turf, Morgan continued punching at the rebound before finally chopping a shot over the defense that spun into the cage for a 1-0 edge.
 
Continuing to set the tone and control possession, Christopher Newport kept up the attack in the ninth minute. After earning the team's first corner, Doss inserted the ball to Brittan Muir at the top of the zone. Drawing the defense over, Muir eventually slipped the ball to Neylon, who unleashed a screamer towards the goal. Showing great instincts, Allshouse scooted over and deflected the blast past the defense to secure a fast two-goal edge.
 
With the offense grabbing an early lead, the defense also clamped down on the Yellow Jackets. In the middle of the opening stanza, Rachel Cooke dropped down to disrupt a long run at midfield before batting down a rainbow feed to eliminate another rush. Calli Ioannou also intercepted a feed and put pressure on an RMC midfielder who momentarily slipped free. Her efforts eventually forced an errant pass, which the Captains used to flip the field again.
 
Following the defensive stand, the offense went back to work just before halftime. After securing another penalty corner, the Captains swarmed the zone and pounded away at the Macon defense. Eventually, Morgan grabbed possession and fed the ball to Doss, who banged home a shot along the far post to earn a 3-0 lead in the 27th minute.
 
Still rolling, Bailey Miller made a textbook tackle to keep the ball in the RMC end in the final minute of the first half, and Ashley Hiltabrand made a spectacular cut to clear a defender and earn some space on the near side, but her ensuing feed into the circle just missed connecting with a stick and brought the first half to a close.
 
With a three-goal edge, Christopher Newport settled in on the defensive end to preserve the shutout in the second half. Reigning CAC Defensive Player of the Week Sarah Miller made a tackle on the sideline to cut off an early rush before clearing the ball moments later. Eventually, after working the roller into the Macon end, the Captains made sure to keep it there.
 
Allshouse and Riley Keeter both picked off clearing feeds, while Muir and Bailey Miller added tackles at midfield to keep the pressure on the Yellow Jackets. Although the visitors were eventually able to work the ball down the field, the back line was equally stingy.
 
Stephanie McKinney came charging out of the cage to kick away a roller that wiggled free inside the circle before Sarah Miller blocked Macon's first shot. Moments later, following a corner, the Yellow Jackets' final attempt spun wide before the Captains took possession.
 
Still holding a three-goal edge, CNU never relaxed on either side of the field. Following a long deflection off a corner attempt, a Yellow Jacket tracked down the ricochet, but Cooke ran her down along the far sideline and applied pressure to force a turnover. Moments later, the offense came through with the final tally.
 
In the 64th minute, Neylon unloaded on another dart towards the cage. With some defenders in the way of the shot, Allshouse came through again and got her stick on the ball to send it sailing over the goalie for the squad's fourth and final goal.
 
With little left to prove, Cooke came through with another hustle play and broke up a pair of passes at midfield before the Captains took control and eased into the victory.
 
Overall, Christopher Newport held a 42-2 edge in shots and an 18-1 lead in corners. The Yellow Jackets combined to make 23 saves during the game, while Bailey Lien earned the victory for the Captains after piecing together a pristine ledger in the first half.
 
CNU will return to action on Saturday when the squad welcomes Bridgewater to town for a 2 p.m. showdown. After the game, the Captains will hold their annual Fall Clinic. For more information, please visit the "Camps and Clinics" page here:  Clinics Link.
 
---CNU---