NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Keeping constant pressure on the opposition with a relentless offensive attack, the Christopher Newport field hockey team controlled the tempo and capitalized on a pair of first-half goals to snatch an early lead on the way to a 3-1 victory over Rhodes during a non-conference test on a soggy Saturday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.
 
Fittingly, Mauri Ware kicked off the scoring in the first quarter after taking part in the program's annual Senior Day ceremony prior to the contest. Later, Marcella Sabbagh added a dagger in the second stanza, while Abby Asuncion capped off the game with a strike in the fourth period to polish off the victory.
 
In addition to Ware, fellow seniors Izzy Diz and Nyla Lewis also made their mark during the contest. Diz anchored a defensive unit that allowed just five shots while blanketing the field from sideline to sideline. Meanwhile, Lewis was equally impressive on the defensive side while also adding her third assist of the season. Along with the three seniors, student assistant Sam Brady was also celebrated during the pregame festivities for his contributions to the program over the last four years.
 
Aided by the efforts of the seniors, Christopher Newport registered at least three goals for the seventh straight game. That equals the longest run in program history, matching the seven-game roll posted by the 2004 squad from September 15 through October 3.
 
With the victory, the Captains improved to 6-4 on the season, including 4-0 at home. The setback dropped Rhodes to 5-4.
 
Setting the tone early on, Christopher Newport earned a pair of corners in the first four minutes while unloading four on-target shots. Unfortunately, all four attempts were turned aside as Rhodes' goalie made three stops before the final rocket was batted down by an acrobatic defensive save.
 
Keeping the pressure on the visitors, the Captains quickly clamped down on Rhodes' retaliation. Although the Lynx wiggled their way across midfield, Sabbagh took care of the rest. The junior juggernaut broke up a long run down the left sideline before disrupting a pass along the edge of the circle. Minutes later, Diz made a tremendous tackle on a rally up the center of the field to stunt another surge.
 
Going back to work on the offensive side, Christopher Newport peppered Rhodes with an endless assault. Although the visitors did a commendable job holding up against the onslaught, the Captains eventually broke through in the final seconds of the first quarter.
 
After securing a corner, Ware inserted the ball to Chloe Thompson, who flipped a pass to Sabbagh. After grabbing the feed, she ripped an absolute screamer. Although the initial shot was kicked aside, Ware was there to clean up on the back end. The senior scooted in along the left post, snatched the rebound, and threaded a dart just inside the pipe for the game's first goal.
 
In the second quarter, Sabbagh took control again with stellar play on both ends of the field. Early in the period, the Lynx fired their first shot in the 18th minute, but the third-year star blocked the blast deep inside the circle. Later, she came back with her second goal of the season during an incredible rally.
 
Off a restart near the 25, Sabbagh took on the entire Rhodes team by herself. Keeping control of the ball, she split two defenders and cut around a third near the arc. With a fourth player scrambling to catch up, she simply stopped and laced a one-timer. Incredibly, the shot pin-balled off the goalie and right pipe before settling into the cage for a 2-0 lead entering halftime.
 
Following the break, Rhodes managed to crack the scoreboard in the 40th minute, but Christopher Newport regained its footing on the defensive side. Refusing to let the Lynx claw any closer, Brooke Billhimer picked off a roller along the sideline to thwart an early surge before Thompson bottled up another rally along the left side. Still pushing, the visitors earned a corner in the 45th minute, but Asuncion stormed out and blocked the attempt at the top of the arc to sustain the one-goal edge.
 
In the final stanza, the hosts were hit with an early card and played shorthanded for two minutes, but the defense was up to the challenge. Early on, Thompson came through with a great poke to interrupt a push up the center of the field. Moments later, after the visitors secured a corner, Ware blocked the attempt to prevent any damage.
 
Looking to add a little cushion to their one-goal lead, the Captains found paydirt in the 54th minute. After earning a corner, Thompson sent the ball into Lewis, who tapped the roller to Ware. With a defender draped on her back, Ware returned the ball to Lewis, who unloaded a tracer into the circle.
 
Outnumbered on the inside, Asuncion still managed to collect a deflection off the stick of a defender. With possession, she rolled to her right and punched a dagger through the defense for her team-leading 12th goal of the season.
 
Holding a 3-1 edge, the defense closed out the game. First, after Rhodes managed to find some space in the center of the field, Diz swiped the ball away from an attacker and spun her way across midfield. Katie Abendschoen also had a nice strip with three minutes left in regulation before Gabi Gray made the defensive play of the game.
 
With two minutes left in the contest, a dangerous bouncer slipped past the defense and created a one-on-one for a Rhodes attacker. Unfazed by the situation, Gray cruised out of the cage and hit the turf. Incredibly, while sliding on the ground, she made a fully-extended stop with her stick to punch the ball away and disrupt the initial threat.
 
Although Rhodes still had an opportunity to push forward, Diz came storming over and applied some pressure before Lewis grabbed the loose ball and cracked it out of the circle. Seconds later, after a restart, Morgan Arthur escorted the ball up the left sideline to give the defense a break.
 
Entering the final minute of regulation, the visitors attempted to push the ball back down the field, but Billhimer picked off a pass along the left sideline, while Lewis built a blockade along the right side to close out the 3-1 victory.
 
Overall, Christopher Newport held a 34-5 advantage in shots and a 14-2 lead in corners. Meanwhile, Gray finished the contest with three saves for the Captains, while Riley Mazola had 22 stops for the visitors. Rhodes also added three defensive saves, including the highlight-reel stop by Courtney Kelly in the first quarter.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Tuesday when the squad kicks off Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference action with a 4 p.m. tilt at Mary Washington.
 
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