NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Guided by a strong performance from the squad's veteran members, the Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team pieced together an outstanding effort on Senior Day as CNU raced past Frostburg State, 18-7, during a Capital Athletic Conference tilt on a cloudy Saturday afternoon at Captains Turf Field.
 
Making the most of their Senior Day, the squad's fourth-year standouts were terrific during the victory. Leading the way, Meaghan Galvin registered eight points, including five goals. She also added five draw controls during the contest. With that performance, she became the first player in program history to eclipse 300 career draws while also matching her single-season record after collecting her 82nd draw of the year just as time expired.
 
Along with Galvin, fellow senior Erin Callahan contributed four points, including three assists. On the other side, Mariah Ginebra posted a team-high five ground balls and three caused turnovers, while Lindsay Weaver forced a pair of miscues as well. Additionally, Meghan O'Reilly picked up three ground balls against the Bobcats, and Katie Gaskin helped anchor a back line that quieted the FSU attack.
 
In goal, Bailey Lien made her first career start and picked up the victory after making three saves for the Captains. With the win, she became just the third goalie in CNU history to earn victories as a member of both the field hockey and lacrosse programs, joining Elizabeth Werbiskis and former teammate Savanah Cummings.
 
In addition to the team's seven seniors, Catie Chess added four goals for Christopher Newport, including the 100th of her career. Jordan Hayes also contributed a hat-trick, and Sarah Culver chipped in with three points as well.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 9-4 on the season, including 3-1 in league action. Frostburg State falls to 5-7 with a 2-2 record in CAC play.
 
Just over a minute into the game, the Captains struck first after flashing their speed. Hayes picked up a ground ball on the defensive side after an FSU shot caught the pipe. After securing the roller, she flew down the field, going coast-to-coast before dishing off to Carly Wilson, who settled behind the crease. Refusing to let the visitors catch up to the play, Wilson quickly found Galvin, who caught the pass and slammed home the game's first strike.
 
Following the goal, CNU also put its defense on display. During an impressive three-minute stand, Gaskin clamped down on a pair of cutback attempts, Julia Golden cut off a free-position opportunity, and Ginebra blocked a shot to keep the Bobcats quiet. Moments later, Chess disrupted another eight-meter attempt before FSU finally managed to slip free and even the score at one.
 
Trading goals, Chess retaliated at the other end with a free-position strike, which marked her 100th career tally. Later, FSU answered again to even things at two before the Captains took control.
 
Remaining vigilant in all facets of the game, Chess intercepted a clearing feed after showing off an impressive vertical to pluck the ball out of the air with an out-stretched grab. Seconds later, Galvin capitalized with a point-blank dart to retake the lead.
 
Following her second goal of the contest, Galvin put on a showcase. First, with the FSU goalie content on holding the ball during a clear attempt, Galvin burst towards the crease, pressured the keeper, and forced an errant pass to regain possession. Moments later, she whistled a shot that was stoned but used quick reflexes to gobble up the rebound and fire a second attempt that settled into the back of the net for a 4-2 lead.
 
Looking to extend the advantage, Wilson slid a free-position shot into the bottom left corner of the cage before Chess added two straight eight-meter darts during a rapid-fire assault in the middle of the first half, which helped push Christopher Newport's lead to four at 7-3.
 
With a little cushion, the Captains settled in on the defensive side as well. Kaitlyn Ready smothered an FSU shot, while Samantha Wettengel caused a turnover. Caitlin King also showed tremendous hustle to retain possession during a lengthy offensive stand after catching up to a roller that was destined to sneak out of bounds.
 
After suffocating the Bobcats, Christopher Newport put the perfect punctuation mark on the first half with two late goals. First, Weaver sliced up the FSU defense, darting through a cluttered zone while sprinting past a slew of defenders on the way to her first strike. Less than a minute later, Callahan flipped a feed to Galvin, who caught it in motion while slinging home her fourth goal of the half to snatch a 9-3 advantage.
 
Following the break, the Captains remained hot in the second stanza. Early in the period, Kaysie Morningstar continued to showcase the team's speed as she burned a path up the field on a fast clear attempt before dishing to Culver. In a flash, the second-year star found Galvin, who followed the play and stormed into the zone before securing the pass and unleashing her fifth tally of the game.
 
Equally effective on the defensive side, Ready made a kick save on a low rocket during an eight-meter attempt before Ginebra ended the threat after pressuring an attacker before jumping on the loose ball. Seconds later, Hayes capitalized on the other side as she broke the ankles of a defender with a sharp cutback before driving home the squad's 11th goal.
 
Later, Galvin and Callahan teamed up on another strike to push the lead to nine before Frostburg State retaliated. Fighting back, the visitors strung together four straight goals in the middle of the second half to inch back within five at 12-7 with 16 minutes remaining in regulation.
 
Needing to quiet the FSU comeback bid, the CNU defense stepped up. First, Weaver bodied up an attacker and forced a turnover to end a rally. Later, Ginebra grabbed a ground ball at midfield after a failed clear attempt by the visitors before Ready made a terrific save along the right post after the Bobcats wiggled free on a breakaway opportunity.
 
Following the defensive stand, Hayes came through with her second goal off a feed from Galvin to nail down a 13-7 advantage with nine minutes left. With the offense finding its rhythm again, the defense made sure they kept possession. Returning to the crease, Lien won a sprint for the ball behind the zone to grab control after a Frostburg State surge. Later, she added a pointblank save to stymie another rally, and Ginebra forced an FSU miscue before the CNU attack put an end to the contest.
 
During the final wave, Callahan assisted on two late goals, including a gorgeous shovel pass off a free-position opportunity that capped off Hayes' hat-trick. Chess also split a pair of defenders on the way to her fourth goal of the contest before Culver added the final two nails, including a man-up rocket off an eight-meter shot.
 
Overall, Christopher Newport held a 45-25 advantage in shots and a 28-15 lead in ground balls. The Captains also controlled 15 of the game's 27 draws, including five by Galvin, four by Chess, and two by Weaver.
 
The Captains will return to action on Wednesday when the squad hosts No. 13 Salisbury at 6 p.m.
 
---CNU---