NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Sarah Mueller opened the scoring in the first quarter and came back with a pair of assists in the second stanza as the sophomore propelled the 14th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team past Rhodes, 4-1, during a non-conference tilt on a sun-drenched Saturday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.
 
Continuing her torrid streak, Mueller now has six points in her last two outings. With her four points on Saturday, she became the first Captain with at least two assists and a goal in a single contest since Courtnie Greene accomplished the feat against Frostburg State on October 15, 2017.
 
Along with Mueller's efforts on the offensive side, Bailey Miller registered her third goal of the week after deflecting a blast by Rachel Cooke following a penalty corner in the second half. Meanwhile, Mauri Ware collected a point in her fifth straight appearance after landing the game-winning strike in the second quarter, while Abby Asuncion found the back of the cage for the fourth time in her last six outings.
 
The victory marked Christopher Newport's third triumph against a reigning NCAA Tournament team this season after the squad previously dispatched No. 9 Rochester and No. 5 Johns Hopkins. That equals the most tournament teams defeated by the Captains in the regular season since the 2013 squad upended five during its run to the Final Four.
 
Overall, Christopher Newport now sits at 7-2 on the season, including 4-0 at home. The setback drops Rhodes to 3-3.
 
Peppering the Lynx with an early assault, the Captains hit the ground running in the first quarter. Firing shots from all over the field, the hosts pounded seven attempts before Rhodes uncorked its first. Unfortunately, the RC defense was up to the challenge early on. The visitors made seven saves during the first quarter, including a nice defensive stop on a dart by Nyla Lewis.
 
After Rhodes began to find its footing late in the period, Christopher Newport clamped down. Asuncion rode a midfielder and stole back possession with three minutes remaining in the period before Kennedy Johnson slammed the door on a pass near the 50. Continuing to blanket the field, Marcella Sabbagh had an interception and pushed the roller up to the circle before earning a corner in the 14th minute.
 
Although the visitors managed to hold off the Captains for a brief moment, Mueller eventually took advantage of the pressure. Snatching a bouncer, she turned at the top of the arc and whipped a backhand blast towards the cage that glanced off the stick of a defender and tucked itself under the crossbar.
 
Staring at a deficit entering the second quarter, Rhodes picked up the pace. The visitors had a nice run deep into the circle, but Sabbagh burst over and swiped the ball away. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, the Lynx returned again and found an opening in the 21st minute to knot the game at one.
 
Back on even ground, Rhodes had another run up the sideline with eight minutes left in the half with a chance to grab the lead. Refusing to give an inch, Izzy Diz cleaned up the play on the back end to grab possession and flip the field.
 
Looking to regain an edge, the Captains succeeded in the 23rd minute. Bolting up the field, Mueller drew some attention with Ware flanked to her left. Without a clean look of her own, Mueller dished to her teammate, who cracked a bouncer right through the keeper to snatch a 2-1 advantage.
 
Attempting to battle back, Rhodes had little luck solving the Christopher Newport defense. With six minutes left in the half, the squad had some space on a run up the near side of the field, but Miller caught up to the play before anything could transpire. Later, after the Captains were hit with a card, Johnson did excellent work to kill off the shorthanded situation as the senior slowed up a run near midfield before intercepting a pass along the far sideline.
 
After returning to full strength, the hosts added one final goal just before halftime. In the 28th minute, Cooke pushed the ball up to the arc and fed it inside. With a host of players hanging out in a cluttered space, Jackie Kotoriy tipped it over to Mueller, who whistled a screamer towards the cage. Planted in front of the keeper, Asuncion deflected the rocket through the defense for the third goal of the game.
 
Following halftime, Christopher Newport continued its offensive showcase. Capitalizing on a corner in the 34th minute, Miller inserted the ball to Cooke, who was stationed at the top of the circle. Flashing her strength, the senior took possession and ripped a one-timer towards the goal. Cutting inside after the insert, Miller was there to deflect it into the back of the cage for her third goal in the past two games.
 
Holding a 4-1 edge, the Captains settled in on the defensive end. Brushing aside a series of runs by the Lynx, Olivia Davis swatted a dangerous roller in the 44th minute before Lewis punched away a centering attempt before it could create an issue on the interior. Later, with pressure mounting on the defense, Johnson made a tackle along the arc before Miller knocked a bouncer out of the circle. Giving the defense a breather, Morgan Arthur took control and scooted up the far sideline to help close out the third quarter.
 
Continuing the defensive work in the final period, Sabbagh walled off an early run before Johnson cut off another rally near midfield. Meanwhile, on the other side, Ware nearly added her second strike but had a shot turned away just before it leaked across the line by a Rhodes defender. Kotoriy also had an on-target tracer stoned by the defense, while Ariana Samuel nearly connected with a pair of sticks on a centering pass, but it just slipped through the circle untouched.
 
Following Christopher Newport's final offensive surge, the defense closed out the action. Taking over in cage, Mary Grace Humes handled a pair of late shots by the visitors following a penalty corner. Shortly thereafter, the Lynx earned another attempt, but Cooke pressured the shooter and deflected a rip before Diz cleaned up on the back end to close out the contest.
 
Overall, Christopher Newport out-shot Rhodes, 26-9, and held an 8-6 lead in corners. Between the pipes, Davis and Humes combined for three saves, while Nina Migneco added nine for the Lynx.
 
With her performance, Davis also registered her 20th career victory for the Captains. She joined former standouts Bailey Lien, Emma Stout, and Jamie Dowling as the only players to reach that plateau.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Tuesday when the squad wraps up a brief homestand with a 7 p.m. showdown against Virginia Wesleyan.
 
---ISH---