NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Etching her name in the history books, Courtney Fiest christened the new home of the Christopher Newport field hockey program with the first two goals at Jennings Family Stadium while helping lead the 16th-ranked Captains to a 3-1 victory over DePauw during a non-conference showdown on a waterlogged Friday evening.
 
The junior All-American wasted little time breaking in the new stadium as she struck off a penalty corner less than two minutes into regulation. Later, she came back with her second strike in the 10th minute before Bailey Miller capped off the offensive showcase with the squad's final tally in the second quarter.
 
The defense was equally impressive on Friday as the squad limited DePauw to just four shots, including three on cage. Kennedy Johnson contributed her second career defensive save during a scramble off a penalty corner, while the rest of the back line helped suffocate the opposition during a 60-minute domination.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 2-1 on the season, while the setback drops DePauw to 1-2.
 
Jump-starting the squad's opening offensive surge in the first minute of action, Rachel Cooke slipped a pass to Mauri Ware, who corralled the ball along the end line and quickly drew a corner. Looking to capitalize, Ware inserted a feed to Fiest at the top of the circle.
 
With two defenders over-pursuing, Fiest dodged the DePauw defense with a cut to her left before slamming a rocket that skidded across the turf and tucked itself inside the left corner of the cage.
 
Only eight minutes later, Fiest came back again with a highlight-reel run. In the 10th minute, Sarah Mueller dished the ball to Fiest, who found herself in the far corner. With three defenders and the DePauw goalie standing between her and the left post, the junior went to work. She popped the ball up to herself and juggled it past the first Tiger before placing it back down on the turf.
 
With two more defenders left, she used a little hesitation step to seal off the second Tiger. After creating her own space, she quickly knocked a roller past the goalie and last remaining defender to give the hosts a fast 2-0 edge.
 
In the second quarter, DePauw attempted to respond, but Christopher Newport blanketed the field. Early in the period, Nyla Lewis broke up a deep run before the visitors earned back-to-back corners. Unfazed by the situation, Cooke disrupted the initial attempt. Moments later, Johnson knocked down a pellet that was destined for the left post before swarming two more attackers near the top of the arc. Ending the threat, Marcella Sabbagh batted down a high bouncer into the circle to help flip the field.
 
Trading runs in the middle of the stanza, Abby Asuncion burst free on a beautiful sprint up the field. The freshman eventually got DePauw's goalie to hit the turf, but the Tiger keeper managed to punt the ball away at the last second. Shortly thereafter, the visitors jumped out on a run going the other way, but Cooke played deep and broke up the rally.
 
Looking for some insurance, the Captains got it in the 28th minute. After earning three corners, the squad capitalized on the final attempt. Miller sent a lengthy insertion out to Sabbagh. Flashing her power, the freshman unloaded a screamer back into the circle. Racing in from the end line, Miller received the feed and pounded away.
 
Although DePauw's goalie was able to shut the door on Miller's first attempt, the senior showed tremendous instincts. She stayed with the play, collected her own rebound, and blasted home her first goal of the season to snatch a 3-0 lead.
 
With time ticking down on the first half, Emma Logue did all she could to add another tally. The freshman cut off a clear attempt to keep the pressure on the DePauw defense. As the clock hit zero, she also secured a pass from Julia Glowatsky and battled hard along the left post to earn one final corner. Unfortunately, the squad's last-ditch effort was brushed aside by the opposition.
 
Following the break, Christopher Newport's defense did the rest. With a comfortable cushion, the Captains never let DePauw back into the game. Although the visitors managed to slip a goal in during a fast-break in the third quarter, the hosts eased into the win.
 
After singing the National Anthem before the game, Gabi Gray showed off her diverse skill set and made a save following an early corner attempt by the Tigers in the third quarter. Johnson also broke up a pair of runs by the visitors and cleared the circle with a nice scamper out the right side.
 
Continuing to shut down the opposition, Cooke blocked a shot off another corner attempt late in the third period, while Sabbagh played deep and broke up a lengthy surge up the far side of the field early in the fourth quarter. Johnson also eliminated a run on the near side in the final stanza before Cooke and Fiest took control over the last few minutes to help run off the remaining time and seal the win.
 
Overall, Christopher Newport held a 29-4 edge in shots and a 16-4 lead in corners. Along with Gray's time in the cage, Olivia Davis added a spotless first half, while Mary Grace Humes was perfect in the fourth quarter for the Captains.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Sunday when the squad faces its third top-10 test of the season with a noon battle against No. 5 Johns Hopkins at Jennings Family Stadium.
 
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