RALEIGH, N.C. -- Capitalizing on a spectacular offensive attack and another suffocating defensive performance, the Christopher Newport field hockey team pieced together a highlight-reel showcase during a 9-0 victory over Sewanee in a neutral-site tilt on Sunday afternoon at the Meredith College Athletic Complex in Raleigh, North Carolina.
 
The nine goals equaled the eighth-highest single-game total in program history and marked the most by the Captains since the squad registered a 10-0 win over Ferrum on September 6, 2015. The nine strikes also equaled the most on the road since a 15-0 triumph against Trinity (D.C.) on September 28, 2001.
 
Headlining the assault, Marcella Sabbagh became the first player in program history to convert two penalty strokes in a single game after snapping off a pair against the Tigers. In fact, Sunday's game marked just the second time in program history that the team converted two strokes in a single contest. The only other such occurrence came on September 10, 2011 when Lauren Cherry and current assistant coach Marlene Lichty each sank a stroke in a 4-0 win against Centre.
 
With her two goals on Sunday, Sabbagh also became the 14th player in program history to post at least one strike in four consecutive games. Making the junior star's run even more unique, her five goals during that stretch happen to be the first five goals of her collegiate career.
 
Mauri Ware also carved out her own special place in program lore after adding a pair of tallies against the Tigers. With her two goals, she became just the 17th Captain to reach 50 career points and the 18th to eclipse 20 career goals. Incredibly, she reached both marks in just her 31st appearance at Christopher Newport. Only current teammate Abby Asuncion, Christopher Newport Hall of Famer Wendy Wilson, and All-American standout Ashley Traylor reached those milestones quicker.
 
Along with Ware and Sabbagh, Emma Logue also notched her first career multi-goal effort after striking twice against Sewanee.
 
Overall, Sunday's outburst marked the ninth straight game in which Christopher Newport has scored at least three goals. That remains the longest active streak in the nation and the finest run in program history. Incredibly, during that stretch, 13 different players have collected at least one point, while 12 have found the back of the cage.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 8-4 on the season. The setback drops Sewanee to 4-7.
 
Setting the tone immediately, the Captains opened the scoring in the fourth minute. On the play, Logue picked off a dribbler near the 25 and slipped the ball into the circle. On the receiving end, Ware made a nice cut on the inside to drop the goalie to the turf. Although the ensuing shot caught the post, Logue was there to snatch the deflection and knock home the rebound for the game's first tally.
 
Just moments later, Christopher Newport came back for more. Once again, Logue was at the forefront of the action as she saved the ball from slipping out of the zone following a penalty corner. Continuing the rally, Asuncion took control on the interior. Although she was blanketed by the defense, the third-year star managed to sneak the ball to Katie Abendschoen. With a clean look along the right pipe, the freshman phenom punched a shot past the keeper for a 2-0 lead.
 
In the second quarter, Ware came through with a historic surge. Kicking things off, she won possession from a defender and split two other Tigers during a 30-yard sprint towards the cage. Although Sewanee held up for a moment, Ware quickly secured a corner in the 20th minute.
 
After grabbing the insertion at the top of the circle, Chloe Thompson drew the attention of the defense. Unfazed, the sophomore returned the ball to Ware, who turned and wrapped a rocket around another Tiger for her first dagger of the game.
 
Seconds later, the Captains returned to the zone. Nyla Lewis swiped the ball along the 25 and pushed her way into the circle. Eventually, the senior threaded a pass to Lainey Pratzner, who was swarmed by three defenders. Keeping possession despite the mounting pressure along the right pipe, she kept calm and slid a pass to Ware, who deposited her second dart along the left post.
 
Incredibly, only 29 seconds elapsed between Ware's two goals. That marked the second-shortest span between strikes by a single player in program history. Only Lindsay Hendricks scored two goals in a shorter window after she capitalized twice during a 21-second blitz against Gwynedd-Mercy in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on November 7, 2012.
 
Holding a 4-0 lead, Christopher Newport rarely let the ball slip across midfield. Even when it did, the defense was there to halt any advances. Izzy Diz made a great tackle with five minutes left in the half to slam the door on one run by the Tigers. Later, after the Captains worked the ball back down the field, Ainsley Miller fought with a defender during a lengthy battle along the right side of the zone, while Thompson did the same on the left side to keep possession during a sustained rally.
 
Keeping the deficit at four, Sewanee held up against Christopher Newport's unrelenting attack in the latter portion of the first half. Then, with momentum beginning to turn, the Tigers earned a penalty stroke in the 28th minute.
 
Squaring off with a shooter, Gabi Gray stood tall during the one-on-one skirmish. Brushing aside the threat, the junior goalie swallowed the blast to keep the shutout intact entering halftime. With that stop, she became just the fifth Captain in program history to make a save on a penalty stroke, joining Stephanie McKinney, Emma Stout, Samantha Pelstring, and All-American Bailey Lien.
 
In the third quarter, Christopher Newport quickly stretched its lead. During a lengthy rally, Sewanee attempted to clear the zone, but Brooke Billhimer picked off a pass and eventually helped earn a corner. Capitalizing on the play, Sabbagh launched a screamer towards the cage. Although the initial shot was punched away by the goalie, Asuncion was there to collect the rebound. After gaining possession, she pulled to her right before slipping one inside the post for a 5-0 lead.
 
Looking for an answer on the other side of the field, the Tigers earned their own corner in the 33rd minute. Holding firm, Asuncion applied immediate pressure at the top of the circle. Although Sewanee managed to uncork a shot, Paige Bowling got her pads on the attempt before Sabbagh whipped it out of the circle.
 
Still searching for their first goal, the Tigers continued to poke at the Captains in the middle of the third quarter. Refusing to break, Abendschoen came through with a tackle on the left side of the field, while Vivian Pope and Morgan Arthur teamed up to steal back a clear attempt on the opposite side. Later, Diz took over on the back end.
 
During a minute-long rally, Diz shrugged off a hit at the top of the arc to slow down an initial push by Sewanee. Later, she grabbed a bouncer that hopped into the circle before intercepting a centering feed that posed a threat in the middle of the zone.
 
After brushing aside Sewanee's advances, the offense found its rhythm again. In the 41st minute, Maddison Steele stole the ball near the offensive 25. Battling two defenders, she escorted the roller into the circle before drawing the attention of the goalie. Squaring off with three opponents as bodies crashed down on the field, she kept her wits and slipped possession to Logue, who unloaded an attempt that drew a penalty stroke.
 
Taking the free shot, Sabbagh stepped up and ripped a liner inside the left pipe for her first goal of the game.
 
Less than two minutes later, Logue came back to polish off her afternoon. After serving as the inserter on a penalty corner, she settled into an opening along the left pipe. Perfectly positioned, she eventually secured a rebound off a blast by Sabbagh before sliding a shot across the goal line for a 7-0 lead.
 
Continuing the onslaught, Steele helped set up another stroke in the 44th minute. This time, she grabbed a long roller on the doorstep and pressured three Tigers before drawing a foul, which secured another free shot. After converting the first attempt, Sabbagh returned for her second try. With another rip from seven yards out, she painted the right side of the cage to snatch an 8-0 advantage.
 
With little left to prove, Christopher Newport added one final highlight on both ends of the field in the fourth quarter to wrap up the win. First, on the defensive side, Sewanee earned its second corner of the game in the 50th minute. Flashing her wheels, Asuncion scooted out of the cage and actually stole the insertion before it made its way to the top of the circle, which closed out the Tigers' final threat.
 
Minutes later, Christopher Newport earned its own corner and finished off the game. On the play, Lewis took the insert and flashed some fancy stick work with a behind-the-back pass to Sabbagh. Cracking the ball inside, Sabbagh found Diz on the interior. Showing off her own skills, the senior settled the rocket, spun to her right, and punched a shot past a diving goalie to lock up her first collegiate goal.
 
Overall, the Captains out-shot Sewanee, 35-2, and held a 14-2 edge in corners.
 
While Sunday's game provided a litany of memorable moments for the players on the field, the victory also served as a personal milestone for head coach Carrie Moura. Sewanee became the 50th different school that she has defeated since taking over as the head coach at Christopher Newport in 2003. In her 19th year at the helm of the program, she now boasts a 246-79 record. Her .757 winning percentage currently stands as the 17th-highest in the history of collegiate field hockey.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Friday when the squad hosts No. 17 Lynchburg at 7 p.m.
 
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