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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team trailed by only one early in the second half, but No. 5 Salisbury found its rhythm after the break and used a late rally to push past CNU, 18-8, during a Capital Athletic Conference contest on a sun-splashed Wednesday afternoon at Captains Field.
 
Against the Sea Gulls, Sam Wettengel excelled on both sides of the field. The junior scored a pair of goals and also forced two turnovers while collecting five ground balls. Her two caused turnovers bumped her total to 30 this year, which moved her into second place on the program's all-time single-season list. She is just 10 shy of equaling Emily Johnson's record of 40 set during the 2014 campaign.
                                             
Along with Wettengel, Alexis Kasuda and Sarah Culver also drove home a pair of strikes, while Cat Leighty added three points. Meanwhile, Victoria Betterly contributed two points to go along with her 23rd caused turnover of the year. That equals the single-season freshman record established by Monica Evans in 2010.
 
In addition to Wettengel and Betterly, Julia Golden posted a team-high four caused turnovers while adding four draw controls. Kaitlyn Ready also contributed 13 saves and scooped up four rollers during her time in the crease.
 
With the setback, Christopher Newport falls to 7-8 on the season, including 1-3 in league play. The victory bumps Salisbury to 11-2 overall and 3-0 against conference foes.
 
Early on, the Captains gave the Sea Gulls all that they could handle. After Salisbury opened the scoring, the hosts immediately shot back. In the third minute, Leighty found herself with a defender in her face. Shaking off the pressure, the sophomore slipped the ball over the top to Betterly, who caught the pass and fired in traffic along the right post to knot the game at one.
 
Four minutes later, after Ready brushed aside a pair of shots on the defensive end, Culver gave the Captains a lead. The senior split a pair of defenders and drew contact on the interior to earn a free-position attempt. Quickly capitalizing, she charged in and buried a blast underneath the crossbar for a 2-1 lead.
 
Trading blows, Salisbury came back with its second goal before Christopher Newport took advantage of an extra-man situation. Following a yellow card on the Sea Gulls, Golden drew the attention of two defenders, who over-pursued towards the top of the zone. Flashing her passing skills, the senior slipped a feed down low to Kasuda, who immediately deposited her first goal of the contest.
 
Although the visitors answered and registered the next three goals to grab a 5-3 edge, CNU never slowed down. Following SU's fifth goal, Zoe Dyer controlled the ensuing draw. Less than a minute later, Culver secured another free-position attempt and converted from the top hash with another high rocket to inch back within one with three minutes left in the opening stanza.
 
Although Salisbury continued the seesaw affair with its sixth goal, Christopher Newport responded after halftime.
 
The Sea Gulls earned the first possession of the second half, but Betterly fought back. The freshman badgered an attacker behind the crease before dropping back and disrupting a pass on the interior. After Ready snagged the ground ball, the Captains quickly cleared the zone and took advantage on the other end.
 
Using solid ball movement to open up some space, Kasuda eventually took control behind the crease. With one defender on her hip, the freshman stormed around the back side. Leading the way, Leighty cleared out space in front while drawing a defender's attention before Kasuda followed with a sprint around the right pipe on the way to her second strike.
 
With their lead down to one at 6-5, the Sea Gulls regrouped. Refusing to allow the Captains to come any closer, the visitors strung together four straight goals to snatch a 10-5 lead with 22 minutes remaining in regulation.
 
Needing to respond, Culver grabbed the ensuing draw and beat a triple-team along the near sideline to get the offense rolling. Working the ball around the zone, Betterly eventually drew some attention and slipped a pass to Leighty, who curled around the right pipe and faked a high shot before depositing low.
 
Meanwhile, on the defensive side, Hannah Curry put together a solid ride to blanket an attacker and force a pass near the top of the zone on the way to an empty possession by the Sea Gulls. Later, Kendall Krause used tremendous pressure to strip a Sea Gull on the far side of the field to end another threat.
 
Sadly, Salisbury never relented. The visitors continued stretching their lead before Wettengel added CNU's final two tallies. The junior capitalized from the eight-meter arc with 11 minutes remaining before slamming home a shot along the left pipe in the final moments to help close out the contest.
 
During the game, Salisbury held a 33-14 advantage in shots and a 21-19 lead in ground balls. The Sea Gulls also secured 14 of the game's 27 draws, although CNU took seven of the 11 in the first half.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday when the squad hosts Frostburg State at 2 p.m. Prior to that game, the Captains will hold their annual Senior Day ceremonies.
 
---CNU---