BRIDGEWATER, Va. -- Getting things done on both sides of the field, Bailey Miller scored a pair of goals and helped anchor a stout defensive unit that registered its second straight shutout as the 14th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team ran past Bridgewater, 4-0, during a non-conference clash on Wednesday evening at the Jopson Athletic Complex.
 
On the offensive side, Miller converted a penalty stroke in the 23rd minute before capitalizing on a corner in the third quarter. That performance marked her third career multi-goal outing and placed her on an eclectic list of four-year standouts. Coupled with her two-goal outburst against St. Mary's (Md.) in 2016, she became just the 10th Captain to record a multi-goal game as both a freshman and senior, placing her name alongside longtime luminaries including all-time leading scorer Belle Tunstall and fellow defensive standout Shelby Judkins.
 
While Miller was anchoring the veteran portion of the roster, first-year Captains Abby Asuncion and Sarah Mueller also found the back of the cage on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Julia Glowatsky registered her first collegiate point with an assist in the second quarter, and Mauri Ware added her team-leading 12th point of the season with a helper in the third stanza.
 
On the defensive side, the Captains swarmed the Eagles with a tremendous effort all across the field. Bridgewater managed only two shots during the game as Kennedy Johnson blocked an attempt in the first half before Gabi Gray cleaned up a try in the fourth quarter.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 6-2 on the season, while the setback drops Bridgewater to 1-8.
 
Setting the tone in the early going, Ware put pressure on the Bridgewater defense with relentless work on the right side of the zone. Continuing to attack, she eventually centered a feed into the circle, which caught the foot of a defender and led to the team's first corner in the seventh minute of action.
 
Although the Eagles held up against the initial attack, including four straight saves by their goalie, the Captains never slowed down. Eventually, the pressure earned two more corners, and the squad capitalized on the final attempt in the eighth minute.
 
On the play, Rachel Cooke broke out a beautiful spin move to shake a charging defender at the top of the arc. Although another Eagle momentarily disrupted the play, Cooke quickly regained possession and sliced a pass through two defenders. On the receiving end, Asuncion took the feed and ripped a dart from close range for the first goal of the contest.
 
Looking to keep the hosts on their toes, Christopher Newport controlled possession throughout the latter portion of the first quarter. Immediately after checking into the game, Madison McGowan deflected a pass along the far sideline with five minutes left to keep the ball on the offensive side. Later, Mueller had an interception at midfield and Cooke pounced on another pass in the waning moments of the stanza, but Bridgewater managed to keep its deficit at 1-0.
 
Kicking things off in the second quarter, both teams came away empty-handed after trading early rallies. First, Cooke continued badgering the BC defense and earned a corner in the 20th minute, but her ensuing shot was blocked before it crossed the line. Later, dismissing Bridgewater's response, Johnson got her stick on the Eagles' first shot of the game before bouncing the roller out of the circle to end the threat.
 
After handling the host's best rally of the first half, the Captains went to work on the offensive side. In the 23rd minute, Asuncion pushed in and fired an initial shot that was stopped by the keeper. Sticking with the play, she collected her own rebound and torched another attempt at the cage. This time, the ball struck a defender standing along the end line and earned Christopher Newport a penalty stroke.
 
Capitalizing on the opportunity, Miller fired a blast that whistled past the diving keeper to snatch a 2-0 lead.
 
Less than three minutes later, the Captains returned for more. This time, Mueller reversed course and slammed a backhand towards the cage. Trying to block the shot, the goalie hit the turf, while a defender batted the ball down along the left post. Unfazed by the frantic actions in front of her, Glowatsky snatched control and quickly flipped a pass back to Mueller. With the defense scrambling, she fired a follow-up into the back of the cage for her first collegiate goal.
 
Hoping to tack on more in the first half, Jackie Kotoriy and Alora Sharron both earned corners after cracking balls off the feet of defenders. Later, Mueller crossed up an Eagle with a nice cut in the final minute while securing a third corner, but Bridgewater held up against the late surge.
 
After halftime, both teams traded runs early in the third quarter. First, on the offensive end, McGowan pushed her way deep into the circle before Asuncion launched a blast from long range, but the Eagles held on. Moments later, after the hosts worked their way down the field, Izzy Diz dropped low and won a battle for the ball along the right post during a tough exchange to stymie a rally.
 
Following the defensive stand, Christopher Newport added the final nail on the offensive side. Cooke sent a crossing feed into Ware, whose ensuing shot found the foot of a defender in the 39th minute. Taking advantage of the corner opportunity, Ware served the ball into Miller, who unloaded a scorcher that sailed high into the cage for her second goal of the contest.
 
Holding a 4-0 lead, the Captains closed out the game with a defensive showcase in the fourth quarter. Kicking things off, Johnson swiped a ball from a midfielder before smoking a rocket up the turf to Mueller, who took possession near the circle. Later, after Bridgewater won the ball back, Johnson intercepted a floater along the sideline to regain control.
 
Continuing to blanket the field, freshmen Marcella Sabbagh and Madison Hodges disrupted plays to keep the ball on the offensive end. Although the hosts managed to slip free for a second, Diz ran back to cut off a look before Gray walled off the right post with the squad's only save of the game.
 
After that, the Captains controlled the clock and kept possession over the final five minutes. Ariana Samuel pressured the Bridgewater defense and earned the team's last corner in the 56th minute. Nearly capitalizing, Tess Rens chipped the insert into the circle before Kirsten Zeigler bullied her way towards the cage, but the Eagles were able to turn away the attempt at the last second.
 
Later, Natalie Corson did great work along the sideline to steal a pair of clear attempts by the Eagles, which helped close out the contest and seal the shutout.
 
Overall, Christopher Newport out-shot Bridgewater, 29-2, and held a 10-0 lead in corners. Between the pipes, Olivia Davis worked a scoreless first half and earned the win for her efforts. Gray and Mary Grace Humes combined for a spotless second half.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday at 11 a.m. when the team battles Rhodes at Jennings Family Stadium. That contest will also serve as the program's annual CHKD Play Day, which raises funds for the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters. Admission will be $5 for adults and $3 for children and students, while all uniformed participants and coaches in the youth Play Day following the game will be admitted free.
 
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