NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Dominating on the defensive side of the ball, the Christopher Newport field hockey team registered its third straight shutout after blanking Lynchburg, 2-0, during a non-conference showdown on a beautiful Friday evening at Jennings Family Stadium.
 
Facing one of the nation's leading offensive attacks, the Captains blanketed the field while surrendering only nine total shots against the high-powered Hornets. Gabi Gray stoned an early on-target rocket by Lynchburg, while the back line blocked four shots and helped brush aside six penalty corners to cap off the shutout.
 
Meanwhile, on the offensive end, Vivian Pope opened the scoring after capitalizing off a corner in the second quarter. Fittingly, her game-winning dagger was assisted by Marcella Sabbagh, who picked up her 21st career point on her 21st birthday.
 
Along with the early strike, Katie Abendschoen added some cushion with her seventh goal of the year in the third quarter. With that tally, she tied former legends Brittney Touchard and Lauren Cheatham for the fifth-most goals by a freshman in program history.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 9-4 on the season and extends its winning streak to six straight games. The setback drops Lynchburg to 10-5.
 
Setting the tone right from the start, the defense took over in the opening period. In the first minute of action, a Hornet slipped free and unloaded a rip from the right side, but Gray handled the blast with ease and quickly played the ball to the turf with her pad. Moments later, Izzy Diz knocked it out of the circle before Lainey Pratzner scurried up the sideline to clear the zone.
 
Although Lynchburg returned to the offensive side, Brooke Billhimer won a race for a loose ball in the right corner before Nyla Lewis picked the pockets of a midfielder to stymie the squad's second surge. Eventually, the Hornets earned a penalty corner in the seventh minute, but Abby Asuncion bolted out of the cage and blocked a shot at the top of the arc. Seconds later, Mauri Ware served the ball across the field to Morgan Arthur, who flashed her wheels and scooted up the right side to give the defense a breather.
 
Later in the period, the Hornets tried to break the scoreless deadlock again, but Asuncion continued to shine. First, the junior blocked a shot after being tattooed by a screamer along the edge of the circle. Although the visitors secured a corner on the play, Asuncion applied pressure at the top of the zone before Diz deflected the ball on the interior to prevent any damage.
 
Entering the second quarter, Christopher Newport picked up the pressure on the offensive end. Finding their rhythm, the hosts garnered two corners and unleashed a pair of shots during the first five minutes. Although Lynchburg held up against the early onslaught, the Captains were undeterred.
 
In the 21st minute, the hosts earned another corner. Inserting the ball, Pope slipped the roller to Lewis, who tapped it to Ware. Waiting for the defense, the senior drew some attention before sliding a pass across the zone to Sabbagh. Loading up, the junior eventually laced a bullet towards the cage. On the back end, Pope finished what she started after curling in along the end line before deflecting the ball behind the goalie for the game's opening tally.
 
After falling behind, Lynchburg attempted to knot the score later in the period while generating another corner. Unfazed by the response, Asuncion came out to the top again and forced an errant shot. On the interior, Sabbagh stuck to the hip of an attacker and prevented another attempt from close range as the Captains kept the 1-0 lead entering the break.
 
After halftime, Lynchburg picked up the pressure but struggled to capitalize. Earning back-to-back corners, the Hornets were turned away on both attempts. First, Lewis deflected a pass at the top of the zone before Diz snatched the ricochet and sent it spinning out of the circle. Later, Sabbagh blocked a shot on the second try to end the rally.
 
Continuing to shine on the defensive end, Maddison Steele intercepted a pass along the 25 and showed off some impressive stick work while scooting through three midfielders to clear the center line. Seconds later, after the Hornets regained possession, Sabbagh won it back after snatching a pass near midfield before lacing it into the right corner.
 
On the restart, a Hornet attempted to send the ball back up the field, but Ware came through with an incredible interception and quickly threaded a pass through two defenders. On the other end, Emma Logue tapped it to Abendschoen, who came barreling into the circle before depositing a laser into the back of the cage for a 2-0 lead.
 
Moments later, Christopher Newport nearly extended its advantage. Lewis threw a blanket over the field and swiped away a pair of passes along the sideline. Later, she punched the ball inside to Pratzner, who had her ensuing shot turned away at the last second by a defender along the right pipe.
 
Looking for a response, Lynchburg picked up a corner in the 38th minute. Continuing to dominate on the defensive end, Lewis stormed out of the cage and swarmed under an attacker as the senior completely bottled up the play before a shot could be taken.
 
Later, the hosts capped off the third period with another defensive showcase. Pope had two interceptions near midfield, while Steele ripped one away along the sideline. After the Hornets inched closer, Billhimer swallowed up an attacker on a run towards the circle, while Asuncion broke up an entry attempt along the arc to polish off the period.
 
With 15 minutes left in regulation, Christopher Newport closed out the game in style. Continuing to rely on the defense, the Captains were breathtaking on the back end. Although the hosts were hit with an early card, Asuncion won a duel along the right post to steal possession during a long rally. Later, Diz burst onto the field and ripped a roller away along the left pipe to keep the shutout intact.
 
Remaining vigilant, Billhimer deflected a centering pass before it could pose a threat, while Steele stood face-to-face with a Hornet and knocked down a pointblank pass to gain possession in the middle of the period. Later, in the waning moments, Arthur punctuated the game with a heads-up play on the interior. On Lynchburg's last-ditch rally, the visitors sent a ball into the circle off a restart. Taking care of the bouncer, the third-year standout cruised in front of an attacker, grabbed the ball, and smacked it away from the cage before Asuncion and Steele escorted it up the field to close out the contest.
 
Overall, both teams posted nine shots during the game, while Lynchburg held a slim 6-4 edge in corners.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Wednesday when the Captains host No. 17 Salisbury in a Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference tilt at 6 p.m.
 
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