NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Piecing together another fantastic effort against a nationally-ranked opponent, the Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team looked evenly matched against No. 7 York (Pa.) and held a second-half lead, but a late rally by the Spartans lifted the visitors to a 12-9 victory on a sun-scorched Saturday afternoon at Captains Turf Field.
 
Keeping pace with the Spartans, Meaghan Galvin led the Captains with three points, including a pair of goals. She also picked up a game-high six draw controls and became the first player in program history to register 100 in a single season after reaching that benchmark with her final draw of the game.
 
Along with Galvin, Catie Chess and Lindsay Weaver added two goals apiece, while Carly Wilson chipped in with two points. Meanwhile, on the defensive end, Kaitlyn Ready came through with 12 saves, marking her third double-digit outing of the season.
 
With the setback, Christopher Newport falls to 10-7 on the year, including 4-4 in league action. Wrapping up the regular season, the Captains will kick off the Capital Athletic Conference Tournament on Tuesday at 4 p.m. with a first-round bout at St. Mary's (Md.). CNU enters the playoffs as the No. 5 seed.
 
The victory moves York (Pa.) to 13-2 on the season and 8-0 in CAC play. The Spartans will enter the postseason as the league's top seed.
 
Right from the beginning, the Captains looked unfazed by their nationally-ranked competition. In the first minute of action, Galvin took the opening draw, plucked the floater out of the air, and stormed into the offensive zone. Moments later, Weaver took control and lit up the scoreboard with a bouncing bullet to snatch a fast 1-0 lead.
 
Although the Spartans retaliated with back-to-back strikes, Christopher Newport had an answer. First, on the defensive end, Ready made a tremendous save off a rocket by YCP before Galvin earned a free-position opportunity on the other side. With a tough angle, she pulled back from the eight-meter arc before hitting Wilson along the left post for a dagger from the doorstep, which evened the score at two.
 
Continuing to trade blows, York responded with another two-goal surge before the Captains put together an impressive run over the final 15 minutes of the opening period.
 
Kicking off the late push, Chess rolled around the defense, ducked under a defender, and lined a laser on the run to pull CNU back within one. Later, Galvin showed off her entire skill set to even the score at four. First, she grabbed the ensuing draw before shaking off a blow to the head, which earned a Spartan defender a two-minute penalty.
 
Although the visitors were able to force a turnover with their man-down unit, Galvin quickly stole the ball back after bodying up a midfielder to keep possession. Moments later, Wilson dished the ball back to Galvin along the far post. Looking to add a fitting punctuation mark to her run, she juked the goalie and slammed a shot into the back of the net to knot the score at four.
 
Remaining vigilant on both ends, Ready stamped out York's response after snaring a low liner before Galvin landed another blow after hitting the Spartans with a sidewinder in front of the crease to snatch a 5-4 edge.
 
Despite a late goal by the Spartans, which knotted the game at five, Julia Golden capped off the opening half with a highlight-reel strike to grab a 6-5 lead entering halftime. After Caitlin King settled on the near side of the field, she lofted a pass towards the interior. Bulling her way through a cluttered zone, Golden elevated, snatched the ball in midair, shrugged off a hit, and sniped a screamer while still floating through the zone before crashing down to the turf after landing the go-ahead goal.
 
After halftime, York came out re-energized and hit the Captains with back-to-back goals before CNU settled in again. First, on the offensive side, Wilson backed up a free-position attempt and snared the ball out of the air before feeding it back to Erin Callahan at the top of the zone. Taking it by herself, the senior charged towards the cage, spun a defender into the turf, and landed her 20th goal of the year to tie the game at seven.
 
Following the offensive heroics, the defense stepped up with a great three-minute stand. Mackenzie Regen walled off an attacker along the left pipe before Jordan Hayes disrupted a roll-back attempt at the top of the zone. Later, the Spartans managed to unleash two straight shots, but Ready slammed the door on both attempts, including a sensational stop with the shaft of her stick to end the threat.
 
Capitalizing on that stand, the Captains cleared the zone before Chess burned past a defender and ripped a shot on the run to grab an 8-7 lead with 21 minutes remaining in regulation.
 
Unfortunately, York had an answer. Showing off their quick-strike capabilities, the visitors strung together three straight goals in less than two minutes to snare a 10-8 lead. The Spartans were on the verge of extending their advantage even further, but Mariah Ginebra crashed down on one play before Ready stoned a breakaway opportunity with another unbelievable save. Following the stop, Kaysie Morningstar grabbed the deflection away from YCP, and the Captains jumpstarted another offensive rally.
 
With 13 minutes left, Weaver earned a free-position opportunity from the top of the arc. In good position, she uncorked a one-timer for her second goal of the game, which brought CNU back within one at 10-9.
 
Looking to pull even, Ginebra scooped up the ensuing draw and the attack peppered the Spartans with a blistering assault. Unfortunately, shots by Callahan, Galvin, and Colleen Bourgal all scooted wide before York regained possession and whistled for a timeout.
 
Following the break, YCP added the final two nails as the squad scored a pair of late goals to cap off the 12-9 victory.
 
Overall, York held a 28-19 advantage in shots and a 13-12 lead in ground balls. Weaver paced the Captains with three rollers, while Galvin and Regen both had two and a caused turnover. The Spartans also controlled 13 of the game's 25 draws.
 
---CNU---