SALEM, Va. -- Cat Leighty erupted for four goals, while Gracie Sanders collected 10 ground balls, but the Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team could not quite keep pace with the high-powered Roanoke attack as the Maroons recorded a 15-10 victory during a non-conference test on Saturday afternoon at Donald J. Kerr Stadium.
 
During the battle, Leighty came through with her second straight five-point effort after notching four goals and an assist. Meanwhile, Sanders was a machine while finishing with 10 ground balls. That total marked the second-most by a Captain in program history, falling one shy of matching Kristyn Hankins' school record set at Lynchburg on March 15, 2005.
 
Fellow senior Sam Wettengel also flashed her diverse skill set with four takeaways, five draw controls, and six ground balls. Leading the underclassmen, Kelsey Winters handed out three assists, while Kendall Krause added a pair of goals.
 
With the setback, Christopher Newport falls to 1-1 on the season. The victory bumps Roanoke to 2-0.
 
At the outset, the hosts stormed out to a fast 2-0 lead before Leighty retaliated. Carrying the Captains on the offensive side, she landed back-to-back blows during a two-minute stretch, including a nice rocket on the run early in the opening stanza. Unfortunately, after Christopher Newport evened things at two, the Maroons had an effective response.
 
Over the course of the next 10 minutes, Roanoke flipped a tie game into a four-goal advantage despite a pair of saves by Becca Creekmore, including a nice stop on a free-position attempt.
 
Staring at a 6-2 deficit, Christopher Newport clawed back into the game. Kicking off the resurgence, Zoe Dyer punched a goal along the right pipe before Leighty added her third after sinking a shot from close range while battling through traffic. Later, Winters converted an eight-meter shot with seven minutes left in the half to pull the visitors back within two at 7-5.
 
Although the Maroons fired back with two straight tallies to regain their four-goal edge, Christopher Newport never slowed down. In the final minute of the first half, the Captains earned a free-position attempt. While the initial shot squirted wide, Dyer hustled to the ball, battled through a scrum, and snatched the roller to regain possession. With a second opportunity, the junior connected with Krause, who was cutting towards the crease and quickly deposited on the run for the final goal of the first half.
 
Unfortunately, after the break, the Captains could not close the gap. Roanoke tossed three straight goals on the board to open the second period and steal a commanding 12-6 lead. Refusing to back down, Christopher Newport quickly snapped RC's scoring streak. Seconds after the host's third straight goal, Wettengel controlled the ensuing draw before Leighty connected on a dart to inch back within five.
 
Later, in the middle of the period, Leighty set up a strike by Krause, while Syd Guidi contributed her third goal of the year, but Roanoke never let the Captains get any closer. Although Sanders capped off her historic day with a goal in the final minutes of regulation, the Maroons held on for the 15-10 victory.
 
Overall, Christopher Newport had a 30-25 advantage in ground balls and a 28-26 edge in shots, but Roanoke led the way in draw controls, 17-10. Along with Wettengel's four takeaways for the Captains, Sanders and Julia Iapicca had two apiece, while Emma Jackson and Joely Stevens each had one. Creekmore also caused a turnover and finished with six saves during her first appearance of the year.
 
The Captains will look to bounce back on Wednesday when Christopher Newport kicks off its home slate with a 5 p.m. battle against Virginia Wesleyan.
 
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