NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Courtnie Greene registered five points to headline a lethal offensive assault as the 15th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team kicked off the postseason with a 7-0 victory over Frostburg State during the first round of the Capital Athletic Conference Tournament on a chilly Sunday afternoon at Captains Turf Field.
 
Helping the squad improve to 8-0 at home this season, Greene sliced up the Bobcats with two goals and an assist. Rachel Cooke also chipped in with a pair of helpers, while five other Captains found the back of the cage. The seven total goals marked the most by CNU in a postseason contest since the 2012 squad dropped eight on Gwynedd-Mercy during the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
Along with the offensive standouts, the defense continued to smother the opposition. The squad eventually came through with its ninth shutout of the year, equaling the fourth-highest single-season total in program history. Helping lead the way, Brittan Muir and Izzy Diz both contributed a pair of defensive saves. With her two stops, Muir now has 16 in her career, tying Chelsea Hines for the all-time program record.
 
With the win, CNU improves to 12-5 on the season and advances to the CAC Semifinals for a date at York (Pa.) on Wednesday. The setback drops Frostburg State to 2-17 overall.
 
From the very beginning, the Captains put the pressure on the FSU defense. Just three minutes into regulation, Bailey Miller grabbed possession along the near sideline before flipping a pass over to Cooke. From 25 yards out, the junior clobbered a dart into the circle. On the other end, Jackie Kotoriy secured the screamer, turned, and pounded away before finding an opening on the left side for the game's first strike.
 
Returning to the scene just two minutes later, Kotoriy torched three defenders on the near side of the circle before flipping the ball back to Nyla Lewis. Anchored near the top of the arc, the freshman eventually sent a bouncer through the zone, which settled on the stick of Rachael Allshouse. In a flash, the senior peppered a shot into the back of the cage for a 2-0 edge.
 
Looking for more, the Captains came back in the eighth minute for their third tally. Courtney Fiest rocketed a shot towards the cage that slipped past the goalie but was stopped at the last second by a defender. Looking to clear the ball, the Bobcat slipped it back into the circle, but Greene was stationed in the center of the zone. Grabbing the roller, she took possession and whistled a one-timer into the cage for a fast 3-0 advantage.
 
Staring at a three-goal deficit, the visitors tried to gain some traction on the other side. In the 14th minute, Frostburg State launched its first on-target attempt of the game, but Olivia Davis kicked it away. Later, Cooke won a duel on the far side of the field to steal possession from an attacker, Muir stoned a run along the near sideline, and Lily Bryngelson poked a ball away from an FSU defender to regain control.
 
Showcasing her work on both sides of the field, Bryngelson eventually won a sprint towards the near sideline to save a roller from slipping out of bounds before cracking a long-range missile towards the cage. Later, Greene also unloaded a rope that generated a penalty corner before Muir broke up a retaliation attempt on the other side to thwart Frostburg State's final run of the opening half.
 
With just seconds remaining in the first period, the Captains looked to stretch their lead. Julia Glowatsky kept possession on the near side of the field and worked her way around a defender before finding Greene. After gaining control, Greene dusted a Bobcat on a run towards the cage. With one defender left to beat, the senior simply flipped a feed to the left post. Holding fort along the pipe, Bryngelson took the pass and converted with a pointblank shot to grab the 4-0 advantage.
 
After halftime, Christopher Newport looked ready to extend the lead with several early threats. Miller pushed into the circle and earned a quick corner. On the play, Sarah Coon hammered a laser that was stopped by the FSU keeper. Allshouse pounced on the rebound and earned another corner, but Cooke's ensuing shot was turned away as well.
 
Following the offensive stand, the CNU defense faced its toughest challenge of the game. In the 42nd minute, a pair of Bobcats wiggled free on a run up the field. Chasing them down, Christina Slick got back in time to disrupt the surge before Mary Grace Humes kicked away a shot. Although Frostburg State earned a corner, the Captains pieced together a suffocating effort.
 
After the visitors inserted the ball, an attacker worked her way towards the right pipe. Intercepting that run, Diz dropped down and kept her stick on the field to prevent anything from slipping through. Banging up against a wall, the Bobcat eventually pulled to her left before a second attacker bullied her way in. Standing tall against the onslaught, Humes kicked away another attempt before Muir stayed deep on the back line and kept the cage clean with a tremendous defensive stand.
 
Following the scare, Christopher Newport went right back to work on the offensive side. In the 48th minute, Cooke danced her way through a pack of Bobcats before lacing a feed into the circle. Taking advantage, Madison McGowan snatched possession and fired a dart between two defenders for her first goal of the season. Two minutes later, Muir took an insert off a penalty corner and launched a long-range rocket towards the cage. Standing in the center of the circle with a defender on her hip, Angelica Florendo tossed her stick out and tipped the shot around the defense for a 6-0 lead.
 
After the quick attack, Frostburg State looked to respond. Pushing back against FSU's second wind, Kennedy Johnson ripped a ball away from an attacker before pushing it up the field. Later, Muir raced back and stole a roller away from another Bobcat before the visitors earned a corner. Brushing that aside as well, Florendo pressured the shooter before Slick punched it out of the circle to prevent any damage.
 
With time winding down, Christopher Newport looked to put the finishing touches on the game in the final minute. Taking possession on the defensive end, Miller sent a pass to Natalie Corson at midfield. After scorching a defender, Corson found Coon, who slipped a feed up to Greene. Bolting free, the senior was eventually tackled at the last minute but earned a penalty stroke for her efforts.
 
Taking advantage of the free shot, Greene used a little hesitation to get the FSU keeper lunging to her left before firing a screamer the other way to cap off the 7-0 triumph.
 
Overall, CNU out-shot Frostburg State, 32-10, and held a 16-4 advantage in penalty corners. On the defensive side, Davis earned the victory for her work in the first half, while Humes came through with a pair of stops in the second stanza.
 
---CNU---