NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Sarah Culver registered her third straight hat-trick, and 15 different Captains scored a goal as the Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team stormed past Virginia Wesleyan, 18-2, during a non-conference battle on a windy Wednesday afternoon at Captains Turf Field.
 
Continuing her incredible roll, Culver posted her 16th goal in the last three games after scoring three times against the Marlins. Carly Wilson also added two goals and an assist, while Meaghan Galvin chipped in with three points as well. Along with the leading scorers, 14 other players notched at least one point in the game during an incredible, well-balanced offensive onslaught.
 
On the defensive end, Kaitlyn Ready made her first collegiate start in goal and came through with five saves to earn the victory. Mackenzie Regen also forced a turnover and collected three ground balls to help lead the suffocating defensive effort.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 2-2 on the season, while Virginia Wesleyan falls to 0-2.
 
Continuing to torch the opposition with a relentless assault, Culver scored two of the game's first three goals after snapping off a pair of free-position darts in the first two minutes of action. Tess D'Arcy also scored after burning a path to the crease before Wilson snapped off her own eight-meter rocket to snatch a 4-0 lead less than five minutes into regulation.
 
Showing no signs of slowing down, the hosts tossed five more goals on the board during a breathtaking three-minute explosion. First, Julia Golden connected with Galvin, who slammed home her fifth goal of the year. Moments later, Culver capped off her hat-trick with another free-position strike before Wilson put on a show.
 
Holding a six-goal lead, Wilson settled behind the crease before lofting a pinpoint pass to Caitlin King, who secured the feed and capitalized on the run. Less than 20 seconds later, Wilson showed off her well-rounded arsenal as she curled around the back of the cage, wrapped around the far post, and snapped off a dart from the doorstep to push the lead to eight.
 
Looking to secure a running clock, Christopher Newport wasted little time extending the lead to double digits. Joining the fun, Sasha Towne and Jordan Hayes both posted their first goals of the season to gain a 10-0 lead. Meanwhile, on the defensive side, CNU continued to lock down the VWC attack. Samantha Wettengel chased down a midfielder and clubbed the stick right out of her hands to force a turnover before Hannah Curry caused a miscue of her own with persistent defense.
 
Equally ferocious on the offensive side, Catie Chess punched home her first goal of the game before setting up a strike by Katie Orrison, who cut towards the cage, caught the pass, and snapped off her first career tally to put the Captains up by a dozen. Moments later, Ellie Hansen capped off the first-half scoring after sniping a bullet of her own to grab a 13-0 lead entering the break.
 
In the second stanza, the Marlins managed to light up the scoreboard with their first goal early in the period, but Christopher Newport stepped up on both sides of the ball. First, on the defensive end, VWC earned a free-position shot, but Katie Gaskin motored in and cut off the attempt before a shot could be taken. Seconds later, after the visitors managed to uncork an attempt on goal, Ready swallowed it with a clean save to give the ball back to her attack.
 
With more than enough breathing room, the Captains eased towards the victory while showcasing the program's future. Freshman Madison Chestnut contributed her first goal off a feed from Erin Callahan before fellow first-year standout Taryn Hannam-Zatz laced an eight-meter strike of her own. Continuing the freshman assault, Kaysie Morningstar shook a defender after securing a pass from Galvin before finding daylight for the squad's 16th goal. Less than two minutes later, Olivia Aumais punched home her first strike as well to nail down a 17-2 lead.
 
As time ran down on regulation, Wettengel added the final nail as she joined her fellow freshmen with a dagger off a feed from Galvin to lock up the 18-2 victory.
 
Overall, Christopher Newport held a 26-8 lead in shots and controlled 18 of the game's 22 draws. Galvin led the way with seven draw controls, while Chess, Wettengel, and Mariah Ginebra had two apiece. The Captains also converted five of their six free-position shots, while Ready stoned both VWC attempts during a tremendous performance between the pipes.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday when the squad hosts Roanoke at noon.
 
---CNU---