LEXINGTON, Va. -- The 13th-ranked Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team could not overcome an early deficit as No. 12 Washington & Lee opened up a lead in the first quarter and held on for a 14-7 victory during the third-annual Virginia "Lacrosse the Nations" Cup on Wednesday evening at Wilson Field.
 
Stepping up right where he left off last year, Dylan Rice led the Captains with two goals in the season opener. Miles Collins also contributed a pair of assists, while Will Stockhausen and Brady Altobello had two points apiece as well. Overall, nine different players registered a point for CNU.
 
With the setback, Christopher Newport falls to 0-1 on the season, while Washington & Lee evens its record at 1-1. The Generals also take a 2-1 lead in the Virginia LtN Cup, which is an annual match-up used to raise awareness and funds for the Lacrosse the Nations organization.
 
Kicking things off early, the Captains struck less than three minutes into regulation. Controlling the tempo, Jackson Deal pushed forward before dishing off to Alex Horgan, who settled on the interior. With a clean look along the right pipe, the freshman found an opening down low for the game's first strike.
 
Although the Generals managed to respond with four straight goals, Christopher Newport landed a counterpunch just before time expired in the opening quarter. Following Washington & Lee's fourth strike, Aidan FitzGerald snatched the ensuing faceoff. With possession, Griffin Hanes found himself locked in a one-on-one battle behind the crease.
 
Taking advantage of the situation, the sophomore got a step on his defender, rolled around the left post, and snapped off a pointblank dart to cut the deficit down to two entering the second quarter.
 
Following the same script that worked on the squad's second goal, FitzGerald won the opening faceoff in the new stanza before the offense capitalized. After the hosts were hit with a penalty, CNU struck. Just over a minute into the second quarter, Altobello flashed great vision as he slipped a perfect feed through the defense to Lucas Barry, who found himself standing alone on the crease. With a clean look, the senior sank his first goal of the season from the doorstep.
 
Back within one, the defense stepped up for the Captains. Scott McAneney made a terrific save on a rip before Campbell Pozin showcased his speed with a blistering clear up the center of the field. Moments later, after the Generals returned to their offensive zone, Phoenix Hines tied up an attacker late in the shot clock to force a turnover and keep W&L off the board.
 
Unfortunately, Washington & Lee eventually broke through again with two straight tallies during a 10-second spurt in the middle of the period to snatch a 6-3 lead.
 
Needing to respond, Christopher Newport whistled for a timeout and regrouped. Following the stoppage, McAneney brushed aside back-to-back attempts by the hosts. After the second save, he fired a rope up the field to Collins. On a breakaway, the sophomore bolted straight towards the cage before finding Rice, who was flanked to his left. After corralling the pass, the second-year star torched the back of the net to pull CNU back within two.
 
Sadly, that was as close as the Captains would come. The Generals capped off the first half with a man-up strike just before the break. Then, early in the third quarter, the hosts lit up the scoreboard twice to grab a 9-4 advantage.
 
Refusing to back down, Christopher Newport never relented. On the offensive side, the visitors strung together two straight strikes. Kicking off that run, Jordan Lee pushed up the field on the right side before dishing back to Stockhausen. From long range, the sophomore torpedoed a low blast into the back of the net.
 
Minutes later, after the defense forced a shot clock violation by the Generals, CNU broke loose on an odd-man rush. With numbers, Collins burst up the field before feeding Altobello, who pounded one home along the crease to cut W&L's lead down to three a 9-6.
 
As they would all evening, the Generals answered. The hosts fired back with their 10th goal just before the end of the third quarter. Then, in the fourth, they stretched their lead to six with a pair of quick strikes.
 
Although Rice snapped W&L's run with his second bullet off of a lengthy feed from Stockhausen, the Generals retaliated with the final two tallies to lock up the 14-7 triumph.
 
McAneney finished the contest with 11 saves, while FitzGerald won seven faceoffs and secured a team-high six ground balls. Collins and Pozin each picked up three rollers and caused a turnover as well.
 
Christopher Newport will have a quick turnaround as CNU returns to action on Friday at 3 p.m. when the squad hosts Colorado College at Captains Field.
 
---CNU---