FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Giving the nationally-ranked Eagles all they could handle, the Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team overcame a second-half deficit and grabbed a lead with 11 minutes remaining in regulation, but No. 10 Mary Washington strung together six straight goals to edge the Captains, 14-10, during a Capital Athletic Conference contest on Wednesday at the Battleground Athletic Complex.
 
Continuing her tremendous junior campaign, Sarah Culver posted a team-high five goals for CNU. With that effort, she became just the eighth Captain in program history to register 50 strikes in a single season and the first since Ashton Marshall accomplished the feat in 2014. Meanwhile, Jordan Hayes also contributed a hat-trick, and Gracie Sanders added a pair of helpers to help balance out the attack.
 
With the setback, Christopher Newport falls to 7-7 on the season, including 3-2 in league action. The victory bumps Mary Washington to 12-2 with a 5-1 mark in CAC play.
 
Trailing 7-4 with 23 minutes remaining in regulation, the Captains staged a remarkable comeback. First, on the offensive side, Culver snapped off a free-position goal to cut the deficit to two. Meanwhile, on the other side, the defense blanketed the field. Ending a lengthy UMW stand, Tess D'Arcy deflected a pass from behind the crease before Mackenzie Regen grabbed the ground ball and gave possession back to the offense.
 
With control, Julia Golden put together a strong showing. The junior spun a midfielder on a successful clear before shaking off a blow to the head, which earned CNU a man-up situation. Capitalizing quickly, Sanders fed Hayes, who cut in from the near side and punched in the squad's sixth goal.
 
Still battling from behind, Colleen Bourgal evened things with 14 minutes left. After taking possession on the near side of the field, Culver put a defender in the spin cycle to free up space before dishing over to Bourgal. After grabbing the feed, the senior charged in and blasted the back of the net to pull even at seven.
 
Although Mary Washington retaliated less than 30 seconds later, the Captains fired right back. After earning another eight-meter attempt, Culver burst in from the arc. The UMW goalie was able to make an initial save, but Culver stuck with the play. Plucking the deflection out of the air, the junior slammed home her own rebound to knot the game at eight.
 
Looking to secure the squad's first lead, Culver controlled the ensuing draw before Catherine Leighty came through with a terrific effort. Showcasing her hustle and hands, she saved a bouncer from shooting out of bounds on the near side of the field. After taking possession, she cruised in and earned a free-position attempt. With a great look, she skidded a low liner into the back of the cage for a 9-8 advantage.
 
Staring at a deficit, the Eagles attempted to retaliate, but the CNU defense stood tall. Golden stuck with an attacker to prevent a shot along the interior. Later, that pressure forced a pass, which Hayes and Corbyn Hale deflected along the crease.
 
Unfortunately, Mary Washington continued its relentless attack. Eventually, the hosts broke through and pulled even at nine. After the Eagles landed the equalizer, the momentum shifted. Controlling possession, UMW eventually ripped five more goals in the next five minutes to steal a 14-9 lead.
 
Refusing to go down quietly, Hayes capitalized on another feed by Sanders with 74 seconds left to end Mary Washington's run. Later, Golden forced a turnover to give the ball back to the attack, but time was simply not on CNU's side as the Eagles closed out the 14-10 triumph.
 
Overall, Mary Washington held a 33-22 edge in shots and a 13-6 lead in ground balls. The hosts also controlled 18 of the game's 25 draws, although Golden collected three for the Captains.
 
Long before the Eagles pulled away in the second half, the two teams looked evenly matched in the early going. UMW was able to control possession out of the gate, but Kaitlyn Ready stoned three quick shots before the Eagles finally broke through. Less than a minute after Mary Washington's first strike, the Captains answered. Hale forced a turnover on the defensive side before Culver landed her first blow to knot the score at one.
 
Breaking the deadlock, the hosts tossed two quick goals on the board in the middle of the period, but the CNU defense dug in to keep the Eagles within reach. D'Arcy got in front of an attacker and drew a charge to end one threat. Later, after Mary Washington earned a free-position attempt, Hayes and Golden helped pressure the Eagle while forcing a shot to sail high.
 
Continuing to quiet UMW, Hayes shadowed a cutter to prevent a pass before Sanders bullied an attacker away from the crease. Moments later, Caroline Kurtz blanketed an Eagle and forced a loose ball, which Regen collected. Although the Eagles regained possession shortly thereafter, Culver pressured the ensuing clear attempt and caused a looping pass to bounce out of bounds, which gave the ball back to the CNU attack.
                                                                                             
Needing to cut into the deficit, the Captains finally found an opening. After Samantha Wettengel kept the possession alive by cutting through a pair of defenders to secure a loose ball, Culver capitalized late in the shot clock. With time winding down, she earned a free-position attempt and ripped a blast from the right side to pull back within one at 3-2.
 
Trading punches, Mary Washington regained a two-goal lead before Hayes burned in front the far side and landed a perfect bounce shot just inside the left pipe to cut the advantage back down to one. Later, the Eagles closed out the half with one final strike to take a 5-3 lead into the break.
 
After halftime, the hosts continued to stretch their lead and wiggled out to a 6-3 edge before Christopher Newport regrouped. First, on the defensive end, Ready walled off three straight attempts. Moments later, Culver took advantage on the other side. After brushing off a violent hit, she earned an eight-meter shot. Using some trigonometry, she burst in and bounced a shot off the turf, which tucked in perfectly under the crossbar for her third goal.
 
Unfortunately, Mary Washington continued to have an answer. The hosts responded to Culver's strike with a goal of their own. Later, after Christopher Newport battled back and gained an edge, the Eagles simply regrouped and found their rhythm when it mattered to pull away for the win.
 
Ready finished with 12 saves for the Captains, while Regen collected two ground balls. Golden also scooped up a roller and forced a turnover to go along with her three draw controls.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday when the team heads to Pennsylvania for 1 p.m. battle with York (Pa.).
 
---CNU---