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CHESTERTOWN, Md. -- Trailing by four late in the first half, the Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team cut its deficit down to one early in the second stanza, but Washington (Md.) responded and pulled away for a 14-11 triumph on Tuesday evening at Kibler Field.
Leading the way for the Captains,
Sarah Culver connected for five goals, including two during extra-man situations. With that performance, she became just the eighth player in program history with a pair of man-up goals in a single contest and the first since former teammate Meaghan Galvin accomplished the feat against Roanoke on March 4, 2017.
In her career, Culver now has nine goals during power play situations, which ties former standout Ashton Marshall for the most in CNU history.
Along with Culver,
Zoe Dyer also contributed four points against the Shorewomen, while
Julia Golden added a pair of strikes. Meanwhile, on the defensive end,
Kaitlyn Ready came through with nine saves, and
Taylor Walker caused two turnovers.
With the setback, Christopher Newport falls to 4-5 on the season. The victory bumps Washington (Md.) to 4-2.
The game was a battle of runs in the early going as the Shorewomen opened the scoring with back-to-back goals before CNU answered. During a four-minute stretch, Culver kicked off her evening with the squad's first tally before
Sam Wettengel capitalized on a feed from Dyer. Moments later,
Gracie Sanders sank a free-position attempt to snatch a 3-2 lead.
Firing back, Washington (Md.) collected six consecutive goals to steal an 8-3 lead midway through the opening period.
Needing to respond, Ready brushed aside an eight-meter shot by the hosts before Golden took advantage on the other end with assistance from
Cat Leighty. Later, Culver made the Shorewomen pay for back-to-back cards as the senior slammed home two straight free-position attempts, which brought the Captains back within three at 9-6.
Those two strikes also gave Culver 54 free-position goals during her career, which moved her to within one of Meaghan Galvin's all-time program record.
Still battling, the two squads traded goals over the final three minutes of the first period, including another dagger by Culver, as Christopher Newport entered halftime trailing, 10-7.
After the break, Ready stoned Washington (Md.)'s first two on-target attempts before the offense found its rhythm. Leighty connected with Dyer on the first goal of the second half before Culver came through with her fifth strike of the game to cut the deficit down to one at 10-9.
Unfortunately, that was as close as the Captains would come. Despite a dart by Dyer with 18 minutes remaining, the hosts scored three of the next four goals to steal a 13-10 lead. Refusing to go down quietly, Dyer assisted on another goal by Golden, while Walker and Wettengel forced turnovers to stymie a pair of WC rallies, but the Shorewomen held on to capture the win.
Overall, Christopher Newport held a 31-29 advantage in shots, while Washington (Md.) led the way in ground balls, 16-12. The hosts also controlled 16 of the game's 27 draws. Golden notched a team-high four draw controls for the Captains, while
Victoria Betterly had three to go along with two ground balls.
CNU will return to action on Thursday when the squad hosts Messiah at 3:30 p.m.
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