Christopher Newport University

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Capitalizing on another strong defensive effort, the 10th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team kept pace with No. 2 Messiah throughout a grueling 70-minute battle, but a pair of first-half strikes by the Falcons proved to be the difference as CNU dropped a 2-0 decision on a warm Wednesday evening at Mary Washington's Battleground Turf Field.
 
After Messiah opened up a 2-0 lead in the first half, the Captains ran stride-for-stride the rest of the way. Olivia Davis made six saves for CNU, and the back line stood tall against a lethal Messiah assault. Rachel Cooke and Brittan Muir helped blanket the opposition, while Kennedy Johnson chipped in with a defensive save during a frantic rally in the middle of the second stanza.
 
With the setback, Christopher Newport falls to 8-2 on the season. Messiah improves to 12-0 and extends its regular season winning streak against Division III opponents to 56 straight contests.
 
In the early going, the Falcons tested the CNU defense. Muir stoned a run towards the right post, while Courtney Fiest stripped an attacker at the top of the circle. Later, after the Captains managed to clear the defensive zone for a brief moment, Messiah worked its way back down the field, but Fiest blocked a shot just inside the arc.
 
Trying to retaliate, Jackie Kotoriy chipped a ball around a defender on the far sideline before Fiest forced a roller into the circle, but the Falcons cleaned it out before any damage could be done.
 
Trading blows, Messiah bolted the other way and unleashed an early assault. Although Izzy Diz blocked a shot before Davis brushed aside an on-target attempt, the Falcons opened the scoring off a penalty corner in the 12th minute to snatch a 1-0 lead.
 
Looking to respond, Kotoriy flipped a long feed into the circle. Rachael Allshouse secured possession and tried to reverse course with a chip along the left post, but her attempt was blocked. Moments later, Messiah also handled Christopher Newport's first corner attempt to keep the one-goal edge.
 
Continuing to face pressure on the other end, Courtnie Greene blocked a shot off a Messiah corner, while Bailey Miller knocked an insert out of the zone. Later, Muir disrupted another shot by the Falcons, but MC eventually converted off a bouncing ball into the circle in the 25th minute to snatch a 2-0 lead.
 
Staring at a two-goal deficit, Christopher Newport whistled for a timeout. Capitalizing on the break, the Captains were flawless over the final 10 minutes of the first half before shining even brighter in the second stanza.
 
After halftime, Nyla Lewis intercepted a roller at midfield before stealing possession again after jumping a passing lane. Meanwhile, Greene stole the ball back along the sideline and sailed a lengthy feed into the circle, but the pass just missed catching a stick on the interior.
 
Firing back on the other end, Messiah worked the ball into the circle, but Davis made a tremendous save on an elevated shot that popped out of a tight cluster of Falcons deep inside the zone. Moments later, Cooke blocked a shot off a corner attempt before brushing aside another missile from the far side of the field.
 
Still standing up against the relentless pressure, Cooke deflected a shot off another corner attempt before Johnson gobbled up the rebound and scooted out of the circle. Two minutes later, Cooke ate a second shot off a corner before Messiah earned another attempt. This time, the Falcons managed to snap off an on-target blast, but Davis kicked it out before Johnson cleaned up on the rebound to keep MC within reach.
 
Looking to find its footing on the other side, Greene laced a bullet into the circle, but the Falcons batted it back out. Later, with 14 minutes remaining, Allshouse and Johnson ran a beautiful two-man game on the far sideline. Allshouse used a nice touch to spring Johnson, who smoked a rope into the circle that just missed finding Ariana Samuel. Seconds later, using a minor variation, Johnson tipped one to Allshouse, who had her insert deflected by a defender.
 
After testing the Messiah defense, the Captains had to handle their own threat. The Falcons slipped free on a breakaway with 10 minutes remaining. With two attackers bolting up the field, Cooke managed to scurry back and break up the run at the last second before a shot could be taken.
 
With time ticking down, Christopher Newport picked up its work on the offensive side. Greene hammered a laser into the zone and Kotority whistled a shot along the right post, but Messiah's keeper was able to handle it. Moments later, the Captains earned a stroke in the 68th minute after Fiest fed a ball into Greene on the doorstep. Unfortunately, the MC goalie was up to the challenge again as she made a sprawling save to knock away the shot and close out the 2-0 victory.
 
During the contest, Messiah held a 21-4 advantage in shots and a 10-1 lead in corners.
 
CNU will look to bounce back on Saturday when the squad continues its road swing with an 11 a.m. contest at York (Pa.).
 
---CNU---