NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Sarah Culver roped a season-high seven goals, while Colleen Bourgal and Catherine Leighty contributed hat-tricks as the Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team used another offensive assault to pick up its second straight victory with a 21-16 triumph over Randolph-Macon on a gorgeous Wednesday evening at Captains Turf Field.
                     
Headlining the attack, Culver finished with eight points. Her seven strikes equaled her career-high and matched the fourth-highest single-game total in program history. Meanwhile, Carly Wilson continued to serve as the squad's chief facilitator with four assists to go along with a pair of tallies. Julia Golden stuffed the stat sheet as well with seven draw controls, four caused turnovers, and three ground balls.
 
Coupled with their 22-8 triumph over Frostburg State on Sunday, the Captains eclipsed 20 goals in back-to-back outings for the first time since ripping off four straight 20-goal appearances in the middle of the 2013 campaign.
 
With the win, Christopher Newport improves to 5-5 on the season. The setback drops Randolph-Macon to 3-5.
 
Getting off to a quick start, the Captains landed the first two blows. First, Golden settled at the top of the zone and waited for a cutter before connecting with Tess D'Arcy, who drove home a strike along the crease. Less than a minute later, Culver used brute force to add the second tally after bulling her way through the defense for a fast 2-0 lead.
 
Although the Yellow Jackets answered with a goal, Christopher Newport took control as the floodgates opened on the offensive side. Bourgal came through with her first strike after splitting a pair of defenders before landing a bounce shot in the back of the net. Minutes later, Wilson showed off her passing skills. The senior found Bourgal on the doorstep before connecting with Golden, who flashed outstanding hands to keep possession of a scorching feed that nearly bounced out of her stick on the way to the squad's fifth strike.
 
Still rolling, Culver sliced up the defense again for her second tally before Gracie Sanders capitalized on a long feed from Wilson to push the lead to 7-1. Pouring it on in the middle of the stanza, Leighty converted an eight-meter shot with a screamer from the arc to snatch a seven-goal edge in the 15th minute.
 
Once again, RMC managed to break up the run with its second goal before the Captains answered with another four-minute rally. Drilling the Yellow Jackets from every angle, Bourgal, Culver, Leighty, and Madison Callan all found the back of the net to earn a double-digit lead at 12-2.
 
Looking to steal back some of the momentum before halftime, Randolph-Macon managed to string together four straight goals of its own before Culver capitalized on a free-position attempt to keep a 13-6 lead entering the break.
 
Hoping to reassert their dominance, the Captains posted back-to-back goals early in the second half. Callan laced an eight-meter laser before Culver made the visitors pay for a yellow card with a man-up dagger to regain a 15-6 lead.
 
Trading runs, RMC answered with four straight goals, but the CNU defense regrouped. Helping out along the crease, Alexa Hladick was glued to the hip of an attacker while preventing a pointblank attempt. Later, D'Arcy stood toe-to-toe with another Yellow Jacket before Golden bullied a player and helped force a loose ball, which Hladick quickly gobbled up.
 
Meanwhile, the CNU attack never lost its rhythm. D'Arcy brushed off a bone-crushing hit on the far side of the field to score her second goal. Later, Culver blew a shot right through the Randolph-Macon goalie before circling a defender on a great run towards the crease for her second straight goal. A few minutes later, Wilson and Caitlin King ran a little give-and-go that helped push the lead to 19-12 in the 41st minute.
 
Refusing to go away, the visitors pieced together a decent rally to pull back within five at 19-14, but Christopher Newport kept them at arm's length. On the defensive side, Mackenzie Regen cut off a breakaway attempt and pushed an attacker off her mark, which forced a shot to sail wide. Later, the sophomore standout badgered another Yellow Jacket around the back of the crease before Kaitlyn Ready walled off the cage and Hladick grabbed another loose ball.
 
With the defense calming down the RMC attack, the Captains added two final goals on the other side. Leighty converted another eight-meter attempt with three minutes remaining before Wilson had a clear run at the cage from the near side of the field to help close out the 21-16 triumph.
 
Overall, Randolph-Macon held a slim 38-34 advantage in shots, but CNU led the way in ground balls, 18-15. Draws were almost even with the Yellow Jackets controlling 20 of the 39 battles. Along with Golden's seven draw controls, Leighty and Samantha Wettengel contributed four apiece. Sanders also added four ground balls to go along with a goal, caused turnover, and draw control during a well-rounded showcase.
 
Meanwhile, on the back side, Ready came through with her eighth consecutive double-digit save effort after notching 11 stops to go along with two ground balls.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday when the team hosts St. Mary's (Md.) at 2 p.m.
 
---CNU---