MEQUON, Wisc. -- Jumping out to a lead less than a minute into the contest, the 12th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team kicked off its trip to the Midwest with an offensive showcase as the Captains rolled past Concordia (Wisc.), 6-1, during a non-conference bout on Friday evening at Tomasini Stadium.
 
During the game, six different Captains found the back of the cage during a well-rounded performance. Courtney Fiest and Mauri Ware both collected their third goals of the year, while Abby Asuncion scored for the second straight game. Rounding out the offensive leaders, Kirsten Zeigler, Sarah Coon, and Jackie Kotoriy all contributed their first strikes in 2019.
 
With the win, the Captains also conquered another territory, adding Wisconsin to the list of states in which the program has recorded at least one victory. Since head coach Carrie Moura took over the squad in 2003, Christopher Newport has now posted a win in a dozen different states as well as Washington, D.C. However, Friday's win does mark only the third triumph in a different time zone, joining the two victories in Memphis, Tennessee which kicked off the historic 2013 campaign.
 
Headlining the long-distance travelers, Fiest and Kotoriy continued to star on the road. With their goals, the junior juggernauts both scored in their fifth different state. Only former teammate Rachael Allshouse scored in more locales, posting a strike in six states during her All-American career from 2015-18.
 
Overall, the victory improves Christopher Newport to 4-1 on the season. The setback ended Concordia's two-game roll and dropped the Falcons to 2-2 on the year.
 
Getting things started quickly, the Captains lit up the scoreboard less than a minute into the contest. Grabbing possession, Fiest blew past a defender while cutting hard to her right. After settling down just inside the arc, she hammered a rocket. Perfectly positioned in front of the goalie, Kotoriy screened the keeper and deflected the shot into the back of the cage for a fast 1-0 lead.
 
The opening goal, which landed just 34 seconds into regulation, marked the second-fastest strike to open a game in program history. Incidentally, the fastest goal, which came 21 seconds into a win at Wesley on October 14, 2012, was scored by former standout and current assistant coach Allie Kerr.
 
Keeping the pressure on, the Captains added their second strike in the second minute of action. After Kotoriy earned a corner, Marcella Sabbagh collected the insert. From long range, the freshman whistled a screamer into the circle. On the other end, Asuncion, who planted herself directly in front of the goalie, corralled the ball and sent it skipping past the keeper for her second collegiate tally.
 
With the visitors snatching an early lead, the hosts attempted to claw back into the contest but had little luck clearing midfield. Fiest, Kennedy Johnson, and Rachel Cooke all picked off passes to frustrate the opposition. Later, Sabbagh grabbed a roller and bullied her way through three Falcons before Cooke lofted an aerial down the field to flip possession.
 
Still looking for an opening, Concordia nearly broke through with six minutes left in the first quarter. After the hosts brushed aside a penalty corner by Christopher Newport, the Falcons burst free on a breakaway. Burning up the field, Sabbagh chased down the lead attacker to disrupt the run momentarily before Bailey Miller swooped in, got her stick on the ball, and ripped it away to end the threat.
 
After surviving a scare on the defensive side, the Captains stretched their lead with 10 seconds left in the first quarter. Playing deep inside the circle, Coon collected the ball right in front of the goalie. Flashing quick hands, the sophomore pulled it back, swung to her right, and popped a shot between the keeper and the right post for her first goal of the year.
 
With a fresh 15 minutes on the clock, the defense continued to stifle the opposition in the second period. Johnson and Sabbagh choked off a pair of early runs near midfield before Asuncion jumped a passing lane and stole the ball during a restart in the 19th minute. Moments later, she made the hosts pay on the other side.
 
Following the interception, Asuncion gave up possession and scurried down the field. After collecting a pass, she turned and ripped a rope into the circle. The ball handcuffed a Falcon and deflected off the stick of a Concordia defender. Bursting in to grab the deflection, Fiest corralled the roller on a dead sprint. Refusing to waste even a single second slowing down, she loaded up and fired on the run, banging a bullet just inside the post for her third goal of the year.
 
Now holding a 4-0 lead, Christopher Newport went to work again on the defensive side of the ball. Johnson and Izzy Diz plucked passes away from the opposition, while Madison McGowan rode a midfielder along the far sideline before Sabbagh snatched an errant roller. Minutes later, after the hosts earned a corner, Cooke played off the shooter and simply smothered the ensuing attempt before any damage could be done.
 
Once again, after the defensive stand, the offense capitalized on the other end. In the 25th minute, Sabbagh sent a feed up to Zeigler, who was stationed along the right post. Taking control, she quickly pulled to her right, found a sliver of daylight, and launched a dagger inside the pipe for the squad's fifth goal.
 
With that strike, Zeigler continued her domination of Concordia. The second-year standout now has five career points, and all of them have come in victories over the Falcons.
 
Staring at a five-goal deficit, the hosts pieced together a furious rally at the end of the first half in the hopes of breaking through. Refusing to give an inch, Mary Grace Humes hit the turf and dove all over the field to thwart the initial rally. Meanwhile, Alora Sharron sealed off the left post and prevented a dribbler from seeping through. The freshman also snatched a lengthy feed and split two defenders moments later to help run out the second quarter.
 
Following the break, Emma Logue cut off an early run by the Falcons before the offense added its final goal. Just a minute into the new half, Cooke fought her way into the circle on the left side. Showing pinpoint precision, she threaded a pass right through four defenders to Ware, who was stationed on the opposite side. After securing the ball, the sophomore still had two defenders on her hip, but she simply turned and cracked one through the back line to grab a 6-0 lead.
 
With more than enough cushion, Christopher Newport closed out the contest while working on its defense. Late in the third quarter, Madison Hodges prevented a clear attempt and perfectly played an aerial to end a separate run by Concordia. Moments later, after a loose ball trickled towards the cage, Gabi Gray punted it out of the circle before any threat could materialize.
 
After closing out the third quarter, the Captains kicked off the fourth in similar fashion. Hodges disrupted another rally early in the stanza before Sarah Mueller intercepted a pass and sent it skipping the other way.
 
With pressure mounting on Christopher Newport's defense, Olivia Davis made a diving stop to stone an attempt in the 52nd minute. Later, after the Falcons earned a corner, Rachel Pabon cruised out of the cage and pressured the shooter to stop the initial play. Miller also got back to prevent a roller from dribbling across the line.
 
Unfortunately, Concordia managed to solve the defense in the 53rd minute with a goal to end the shutout. However, that was the last threat the hosts would pose as Christopher Newport quickly regrouped and ran off the final seven minutes to seal the win.
 
Overall, the Captains out-shot the Falcons, 24-10, and held an 8-3 lead in corners. Davis finished the contest with two saves and earned the win, while Gray and Humes added one stop apiece.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Sunday when the squad faces Centre in a neutral-site battle at Tomasini Stadium. The game is slated to start at 11 a.m. Central Time.
 
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