NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Putting together a clinic on both ends of the field, the 14th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team capitalized on an outstanding performance by the program's senior class to topple Frostburg State, 5-0, during a Capital Athletic Conference tilt on a rain-soaked Saturday afternoon at Captains Turf Field.
                                        
Leading the way for CNU, Rachael Allshouse chipped in with three assists, which established a new career-high and equaled the fourth-highest single-game total in program history. Meanwhile, Courtnie Greene added the game's final strike on a highlight-reel run as time expired, and Brittan Muir anchored the back line on the way to the squad's eighth shutout of the season.
 
Among the underclassmen, Courtney Fiest registered three points, including her 13th goal of the season. Ariana Samuel, Lily Bryngelson, and Jackie Kotoriy also found the back of the cage during a terrific performance by the sophomore class.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 10-4 with a 3-1 mark in league action. The setback drops Frostburg State to 2-14 overall and 0-4 against CAC foes.
 
Kicking things off early, Fiest poked away a ball from an FSU defender and quickly rolled up the field. With Samuel flanked to her left, Fiest slipped a feed through two Bobcats. Capitalizing, Samuel collected the roller and dotted the left corner of the cage with her fifth goal of the year.
 
Shortly thereafter, Fiest continued the offensive showcase in the 11th minute. After Allshouse settled a bouncer on the far side of the field, she slipped it past three defenders inside the circle. Taking advantage, Fiest hammered a rocket on the run into the right side of the cage for a fast 2-0 edge.
 
Keeping the pressure on, Izzy Diz stole a pass at the 25, while Allshouse had a breakaway opportunity before the FSU goalie mauled her at the last minute. Although the ensuing penalty stroke was turned away by the Bobcats, the Captains kept firing. Angelica Florendo had a nice run up the turf after a pass from Greene, while Bryngelson lined a centering feed through the circle that just missed connecting.
 
Although Frostburg State managed to turn away several threats, the dam finally broke again in the 27th minute. Bailey Miller stopped an FSU run at midfield and sent it up to Greene. Attacking at breakneck pace, Greene punched the ball to Madison McGowan, who sailed it into the circle. From pointblank range, Bryngelson struck on the interior to snatch a 3-0 lead.
 
Looking to find their footing, the Bobcats tried to claw back into the contest, but Christopher Newport closed out the half with an excellent defensive performance. Miller stoned a run at the circle, Julia Glowatsky picked off a pass along the sideline, and Greene walled off midfield to brush aside another surge entering the break.
 
In the second half, Frostburg State had a few early opportunities that were turned away. After the visitors stopped a corner attempt by the Captains, FSU burst up the field. Preventing a breakaway, Diz and Nyla Lewis disrupted the run before reinforcements arrived. Shortly thereafter, CNU shut the door on a penalty corner attempt before Diz locked down an attacker with a textbook tackle. Closing out the surge, Muir eventually blew up a play moments later and flipped the field to give the ball back to the offense.

With the skies continuing to dump water on the field, Christopher Newport never slowed down. Through the falling of the rain, Kennedy Johnson drilled a pair of lasers into the circle, while Fiest ripped a rising screamer that was batted down by the FSU goalie. Minutes later, Greene lofted an aerial to Christina Slick, who pounded one towards the cage before Lewis unleashed a blast of her own.
 
Continuing the offensive onslaught, Kotoriy prevented a roller from slipping over the line on the near side to keep the pressure on. Following the hustle play, Lewis punched another on-target attempt before Miller torched a defender with a slick move on the far side of the field to spin a Bobcat and fire a dart towards the interior.
 
Unfortunately, Frostburg State handled all of those threats before throwing a scare into the CNU defense. Breaking free the other way, an attacker found open spaces and gained a clean look at the cage. Winding up, she scorched a one-timer, but Mary Grace Humes made a sensational stop with her pads to keep the shutout intact.
 
After batting away Frostburg's rally, the Captains continued to toss everything at the FSU defense. Muir launched a long ball into the circle that was just deflected wide by Samuel. Kirsten Zeigler also chipped a shot up into the Bobcats' goalkeeper before Miller had a corner redirect turned away.
 
Finally, in the 56th minute, Christopher Newport struck again. Off another corner, Cooke settled the ball down before flipping it out to Allshouse. Blasting a rope from the arc, she had her attempt deflected by Kotoriy, who sent it spiraling into the air before it settled into the back of the cage.
 
With a comfortable lead, the Captains never stopped hustling on both sides of the ball. Muir ran stride-for-stride with an attacker down the far sideline to prevent any damage during an FSU rally. Minutes later, Miller put another Bobcat in a spin cycle on the offensive end before Florendo scorched the turf and stopped a roller from slipping out-of-bounds with a nice out-stretched save in the 62nd minute.
 
Continuing to torment the visitors, Maddie Walls chipped a ball around a defender and got it to Greene, who pushed it back into the offensive zone. Later, after the visitors regained control, Florendo stopped a ball at the 25 before cruising up the field to disrupt another rally. With time ticking down, the seniors closed out the game in style.
 
In the last few moments, Frostburg State had two late attempts on the offensive side, but Muir stoned the first run at the edge of the circle before Allshouse deflected the second. Looking for the perfect punctuation mark, Allshouse unleashed a pinpoint feed that cruised past five Bobcats and landed on the stick of Greene near midfield.
 
On a dead sprint, Greene got the FSU goalie to come out of the cage. Pulling to her right, she eventually got the Bobcat to hit the turf but kept control of the ball. Just before the horn sounded, she capped off the festivities with one last dagger to ice the 5-0 victory.
 
During the contest, CNU out-shot Frostburg State, 29-1, and held a 10-1 edge in corners. Humes made the lone save for the Captains, while Olivia Davis earned the victory following a quiet first half.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Sunday when the team heads to Catholic for a 3 p.m. showdown.
 
---CNU---