NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Courtney Fiest drove home a pair of goals, while Brittan Muir established another career record as the 14th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team toppled St. Mary's (Md.), 3-0, during a Capital Athletic Conference showdown on an autumnal Wednesday evening at Captains Turf Field.
                                                                   
Leading the attack, Fiest scored the game's first two tallies, including her fourth game-winner of the season. That is tied for the fifth-highest total in program history. Meanwhile, Rachael Allshouse also found the back of the cage against the Seahawks, while Rachel Cooke helped set up a pair of goals, including her third assist of the season.
 
Along with the offensive standouts, Muir continued to anchor the back line. Playing the entire game, the senior standout bumped her career total to 4,628 minutes of action. She has now played more minutes than any player in program history, topping the previous standard of 4,572 set by former goalkeeper Bailey Lien from 2013-16.
 
Muir previously established the record for minutes played by a field player during the squad's contest at York (Pa.) last Saturday.
 
Fittingly, her record-setting performance on Wednesday came hours after it was announced that Muir and Allshouse would represent Christopher Newport in the NFHCA Senior All-Star Game, which is scheduled for November 17 in Manheim, Pennsylvania. It marks the first time the Captains have sent a pair of representatives to the game since Allie Hackbarth and Belle Tunstall took part in the 2014 contest.
 
With the victory, CNU improves to 9-4 on the season, including 2-1 in league action. The setback drops St. Mary's (Md.) to 7-6 with a 1-2 mark against conference foes.
 
Kicking off the contest in style, Fiest and Nyla Lewis starred on both sides of the ball. Lewis picked off an early clear attempt by St. Mary's before Fiest intercepted a pair of rollers along the far sideline. Shortly thereafter, the two standouts teamed up on the game's opening strike in the 10th minute.
 
Taking control of the ball near midfield, Cooke spun a strike through a pair of defenders to Lewis. Corralling the ball on the run, the freshman motored in and punched a pass inside to Fiest. Settling in the center of the circle with her back towards the cage, the sophomore took the feed, spun, and unloaded a dart that split the wickets of a defender on the way to her first tally.
 
Looking to respond, St. Mary's marched down the field but found little space to work. Cutting off the squad's first run, Courtnie Greene ripped a roller away near the top of the circle. Minutes later, just as she was establishing the program record, Muir collected a deflection on the interior before intercepting another dribbler to end a separate rally.
 
After brushing aside the Seahawks, CNU's attack attempted to stretch the lead. In the middle of the opening period, the hosts earned four straight corners. Meanwhile, Allshouse, Fiest, Madison McGowan, and Sarah Coon all punched on-target attempts, but St. Mary's held up against the mounting surge.
 
Trading runs, the visitors pieced together a late push at the end of the half, but Christopher Newport held tough again. SMC earned its first corner of the contest in the 34th minute, but Fiest got her stick on the ball before the Seahawks could unload a shot. Later, Muir cleaned out another deep play before Jackie Kotoriy chipped a feed to Allshouse, who cleared the zone and locked in the one-goal halftime lead.
 
Following the break, St. Mary's earned its second corner of the contest, but CNU continued its stellar play on the defensive side. This time, Greene stormed out of the cage and badgered an attacker with relentless pressure before forcing a pass from the top of the circle. Although the squad eventually managed to put a shot on cage, Olivia Davis got her pads on the dart to keep the shutout intact.
 
Retaliating at the other end, Christopher Newport scored less than three minutes later. After earning a corner, Bailey Miller inserted a perfect ball to Fiest, who was anchored at the top of the circle. With a clear shooting lane, she took possession, loaded up, and flashed her muscle with a long-range rope into the back of the cage for a 2-0 edge.
 
Although St. Mary's pushed the ball down towards the circle again, Ariana Samuel eventually gained possession and scurried up the far sideline to help clear the defensive zone. With the ball, Christopher Newport unloaded. Peppering the SMC defense, Allshouse and Samuel both unleashed on-target attempts before the hosts earned six straight corners. Still firing, Cooke clanked a rocket off the post, Fiest had a shot blocked by a defender, and Miller saw an attempt deflected on the interior.
 
Despite a valiant effort by the Seahawks, CNU eventually capitalized on the pressure in the 56th minute. From around the 25-yard line, Cooke laced a screamer into the circle. After sailing past a slew of defenders, the ball eventually found its way to Allshouse. Deflecting the scorcher just enough, she sent it sailing over the last line of defense for the game's third goal.
 
Keeping the pressure on, Fiest had another shot blocked, while Lily Bryngelson lined a well-placed pass from the far side of the field into the circle. Although Angelica Florendo got a great touch on the ball, the officials waved off the play just before she could capitalize.
 
After surviving the scare, St. Mary's whistled for a timeout and tried to regroup with eight minutes left. Following the stoppage, the Seahawks once again ran headfirst into the CNU defense. Fiest grabbed a deflection towards the circle before Muir blocked off another lengthy run. Meanwhile, Coon snatched possession and spun around a defender at midfield to help give the defense a little break.
 
With less than two minutes remaining, the visitors worked their way back down the field, but Muir grabbed another roller at the circle and flipped it off an attacker to gain possession. Later, battling until the night finally came to a close, Kennedy Johnson cleared out a long feed before Muir won a duel at the end of regulation to lock up the win.
 
Overall, Christopher Newport out-shot St. Mary's, 25-2, and held an 11-3 edge in corners. On the back end, Davis finished with one save during a quiet night to secure the team's seventh shutout.
 
CNU will return to action on Saturday when the squad hosts its Senior Day against Frostburg State at 11 a.m.
 
---CNU---