SALISBURY, Md. -- The Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team exited the Capital Athletic Conference Tournament on Wednesday evening as the Captains dropped a 14-6 decision at No. 3 Salisbury during a semifinal clash at Sea Gull Stadium.
 
During the showdown, Dylan Rice and Brady Altobello both recorded a pair of goals for CNU. With his two strikes, Rice moved past former legend John Thompson for third on the program's all-time points list. The second-year star now has 145 during his first two seasons in Newport News.
 
On the defensive end, Phoenix Hines and Max Wayne continued putting on a show. Entering the game ranked among the top-10 nationally in caused turnovers, both players came through with three more against the Sea Gulls. Hines now has 57 this year, which stands as the new single-season standard. Meanwhile, Wayne has 51, joining Hines and former standout Brandon Moloney as the only players in program history to cause at least 50 turnovers in a single campaign.
 
Making some history of his own, Drew Cornell appeared in his 64th consecutive game on Wednesday, equaling the program's all-time "Iron Man" record set by Brenden Dwyer from 2012-15. It also marked his 43rd consecutive start, which moved him past Andy McGregor for the second-longest streak in school history.
 
Fittingly, Cornell made the most of his time on the field as he forced a turnover and tied Wayne for the team-lead with four ground balls.
 
With the setback, Christopher Newport falls to 12-7 on the season. The victory bumps Salisbury to 18-1 and sends the squad into Saturday's CAC Championship for a date with No. 1 York (Pa.)
 
In the first half on Wednesday, Salisbury tossed two quick goals on the board before the Captains responded with a fast transition strike. After Campbell Pozin burned across midfield, the freshman fed up to Miles Collins, who found Alex Horgan along the right pipe. Catching the defense on its heels, Horgan unloaded a low burner for the squad's first goal.
 
After the offensive fireworks, Christopher Newport's defense put together a nice stand. First, after the faceoff following Horgan's strike, Phoenix Hines pressured the Salisbury FOGO and forced a turnover. Later, Pozin and Wayne double-teamed a Sea Gull and eventually caused another miscue to slam the door on a separate rally.
 
Unfortunately, Salisbury continued poking at the CNU defense and eventually strung together three straight goals to steal a 5-1 lead with four minutes remaining in the opening stanza.
 
Needing to regain some momentum, Rice took possession and rolled along the top of the offensive zone. With defenders blanketing him from all sides, the sophomore skipped a feed back to Jackson Deal. After plucking it off the turf, he charged in and fired a rocket on the run to cut Christopher Newport's deficit down to three entering the second stanza.
 
Continuing to respond, the Sea Gulls erupted early in the second period. Unleashing a rapid-fire attack, the hosts struck four times in less than four minutes to open up a seven-goal edge at 9-2.
 
Following a timeout, the Captains fired back. Kicking things off, Altobello burst to his left, rolled around a defender, and bounced a shot through the goalie. Two minutes later, after Wayne intercepted a pass on the defensive end, CNU pushed the tempo. Eventually, Rice took possession on the far side of the field and pumped a dagger into the back of the net to cut Salisbury's lead down to five.
 
Looking for more, after the ensuing faceoff, Aidan FitzGerald hammered away at the opposition before stealing the ball back. After Horgan kept possession with an acrobatic, out-stretched catch, he flipped the ball over to Spencer Shipman. Keeping the pressure on, Shipman pushed up to Rice, who buried his second straight goal underneath the crossbar to pull the Captains within four entering halftime.
 
Although Salisbury tossed an early goal on the board in the third quarter, Christopher Newport's defensive unit dug in with its finest run of the game. Kicking things off, Wayne ripped the ball away from the Sea Gulls after they attempted to work it inside. Later, after the hosts regained possession, the sophomore came back and ended that run as well after bottling up another play along the right post.
 
Following Wayne's efforts, FitzGerald made an attacker pay with a bruising hit on a shot, which forced the attempt to sail high. Scott McAneney also snared a bullet from the far side of the field before threading a line-drive seed to Deal, who beat the clear clock and scampered into the offensive end.
 
Although Salisbury eventually struck again at the tail end of the period to stretch the lead to 11-5, the Captains continued their relentless effort on both sides of the field in the fourth quarter.
 
Continuing to shine on the defensive end, Collins wrapped up a Sea Gull to prevent a pointblank attempt. Moments later, Hines rode an opponent around the back side of the crease before Cornell pounced on a loose ball in the center of the zone. After Salisbury regained possession, Cornell cracked an attacker with a devastating stick check along the end line to end that rally as well.
 
Looking to capitalize on the other end, Christopher Newport took advantage of a man-up situation. Following a Salisbury penalty, the visitors methodically pushed towards the cage and closed distance. Eventually, Will Stockhausen found Altobello, who hammered home his second goal from close range along the left pipe.
 
Back within five at 11-6, the Captains did all they could to pull closer. Jerry Bardol flashed tremendous hands as the freshman snatched a bouncer off the turf before fending off a pair of Sea Gulls, who mugged him down the field. Eventually, the violence drew another SU penalty, but this time, the hosts managed to kill it.
 
Minutes later, after Cornell forced a miscue by tying up a Sea Gull along the interior, Salisbury was slapped with another penalty. Unfortunately, the squad was able to brush that one aside as well before unloading three late goals at the end of regulation to finish off the 14-6 win.
 
During the contest, Salisbury out-shot CNU, 38-24, and won 21 of the game's 24 faceoffs. The Sea Gulls also held a 49-24 advantage in ground balls. On the back end, McAneney finished the game with 10 saves.
 
---CNU---