SALEM, Va. -- Matthew Crist broke the career points record and contributed a game-high four goals, but the 15th-ranked Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team saw its nine-game roll come to an end as No. 18 Roaonke nipped the Captains, 9-8, during a non-conference battle on Wednesday evening at Kerr Stadium.

Entering the game just one point behind Will Geise for the all-time scoring record, Crist blew right past the old mark with a six-point surge against the Maroons. With that performance, the senior standout now has 190 career points. That total is also tied for the 23rd-highest among active players in the country.

Along with Crist, Tony Cruz put on a show against Roanoke. The senior won 16 of the game's 19 faceoffs and grabbed nine ground balls. Dylan Rice also contributed three points, including a pair of goals.

With the setback, Christopher Newport falls to 9-1 on the season. The victory bumps Roanoke to 7-3.

In the first quarter, the two squads traded the game's first four goals. Christopher Newport drew first blood after Christopher Albright pounced on a loose ball in the defensive zone and bolted down the field. With numbers on their side, the Captains took advantage. After crossing into the offensive end, Albright dished off to Crist, who whistled his first strike on the odd-man break to grab a lead.

Following Roanoke's response, Rice found some daylight in the seventh minute. Matched up one-on-one with RC's top defender, the freshman dropped the Maroon with a devastating rollback. After gaining a clear look at the cage, he landed a rope from 15 yards out to regain a one-goal lead.

Although the Maroons managed to even things again, CNU continued to do work all across the field. In the offensive zone, Jackson Deal was surrounded by the entire Roanoke defense but managed to slip through the crowd and grab control of a loose ball to extend a possession. Later, on the defensive side, Conor James badgered an attacker and forced an errant shot before Andrew Clark took a blast to the facemask to keep the game knotted at two. Later, the freshman keeper also made a pointblank stop on a breakaway attempt to quiet another RC surge at the end of the first quarter.

In the second stanza, Roanoke stole its first lead of the game just two minutes into the quarter before the Captains fired back. Will Stockhausen kicked off the surge just a minute after the RC strike. With a stick lodged in his back, the freshman rolled to his right and unleashed a waist-high missile that stung the back of the net. Then, the defense clamped down. Albright and Jake O'Connell stripped an attacker on the near side of the field before Clark snagged a rocket. Shortly thereafter, a pair of long-poles helped set up history.

With less than four minutes left in the first half, Drew Cornell grabbed a ground ball in the defensive end and kick-started the clear. Near midfield, he handed the ball off to James, who ran it into the offensive zone. One point away from the career record, Crist took it from there. Already the program's career assists leader, it seemed only fitting that the senior broke the points record with a helper. Taking advantage of an unsettled situation, he used a quick dish to shuffle the ball over to Rice, who drove home a dagger along the left post to grab a 4-3 lead.

Less than 30 seconds later, Rice returned the favor. After another quick faceoff victory by Cruz, Rice connected with Crist, who buried a laser in the top right corner to push the edge to two entering the break.

Following halftime, things started well for the Captains. Early in the third period, Clark took a shot to the chest but stood tall against the onslaught to keep the Maroons off the board. Following the save, CNU caught the hosts in another unsettled situation. O'Connell took control and fed the ball to Shane McKenna. With the defense trying to catch up, McKenna launched a pass to Crist, who converted from the doorstep for a 6-3 lead.

Unfortunately, things began to go awry after that point. Roanoke tossed a pair of goals on the board to inch back within one. Although Christopher Newport managed to beat a 10-man ride for a quick goal by McKenna to snap RC's streak, the hosts fired right back. In the final 30 seconds of the third quarter, the Maroons struck twice to knot the game at seven entering the final 15 minutes of action.

With the momentum firmly entrenched on the Roanoke sideline, the hosts took advantage. Although Stockhausen and Drew Magnusson peppered the RC defense with an early onslaught, the Maroons held up before their attack took over. In the middle of the quarter, Roanoke scored back-to-back goals during a one-minute blitzkrieg to secure a 9-7 edge. With their backs against the wall, the Captains retaliated with three minutes remaining after Crist capitalized on a pass from Deal to cut the deficit back down to one.

Following the goal, Cruz won another faceoff to give the visitors a chance to complete the comeback, but blasts by McKenna and Deal were turned away before Roanoke ran out the final minute of action.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 43-33 advantage in shots and a 39-26 lead in ground balls. The Captains also won 16 of the 19 faceoffs, but the Maroons were able to survive the statistical discrepancies to secure the victory. Clark finished with nine saves for CNU, while Cornell and Albright picked up four ground balls apiece. Will Cogan also snatched two rollers and forced a turnover.

CNU will return to action on Saturday when the squad heads to St. Mary's (Md.) for a 1 p.m. showdown.

---CNU---