NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Sam Wettengel matched the program record with 13 draw controls, while Zoe Dyer erupted for six goals, but the 20th-ranked Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team could not quite keep pace with No. 4 Salisbury as the Sea Gulls broke a deadlock midway through the second half before pulling away for a hard-fought 19-11 victory on an overcast Wednesday evening at Jennings Family Stadium.
 
During the game, Wettengel was simply spectacular. The senior sensation collected 13 draws, equaling the single-game program record set by Meaghan Galvin against Southern Virginia on March 23, 2017. Her total also marked the most by any player in the Coast-to-Coast Conference this season.
 
While Wettengel was controlling possession, Dyer was taking advantage on the offensive end. The junior deposited six goals against the Sea Gulls, including the equalizer early in the second half. Meanwhile, Kelsey Winters continued her historic campaign with four points, including three assists. The sophomore bumped her season total to 47 helpers, moving her into sole possession of second-place on the program's all-time single-season charts.
 
Rounding out the offensive standouts, Gracie Sanders struck twice for the Captains, while Cat Leighty handed out a pair of assists. On the defensive end, Becca Creekmore chipped in with 10 saves, and Sanders added a pair of takeaways.
 
With the setback, Christopher Newport falls to 8-6 on the season, including 3-4 in league action. The victory moves Salisbury to 10-0 overall and 5-0 against conference competition.
 
In the early going, the Captains came out on fire. Less than three minutes into regulation, Winters found Dyer cutting in from the left side for the game's first goal. Just over a minute later, Winters flashed her finishing skills after bouncing a bullet inside the pipe off a free-position attempt.
 
Although SU managed to tie the game at two, Christopher Newport had an emphatic response. During a three-goal surge, Winters assisted on a pair of strikes by Dyer and Wettengel, while Sanders snapped off a free-position tally on the way to a 5-2 lead.
 
Continuing the seesaw affair, the Sea Gulls rallied. Overcoming the deficit, the visitors strung together seven straight goals during an 11-minute window to take a 9-5 lead heading towards halftime.
 
Needing to steal back some momentum, the Captains went to work. Dyer found herself matched up one-on-one with a defender on the left side of the zone. Taking advantage, she broke out a nice hesitation move to get the Sea Gull off-balance. With some room, she rolled to her right and blasted from the inside for her second goal.
 
Although SU responded less than two minutes later, Christopher Newport made one final push in the first half. With mere seconds on the clock, Paige Williams earned a free-position attempt. Although the freshman's initial rip just missed the left pipe, Sanders was there to back up the play. Gaining possession, she cruised towards the crease, dipped underneath her defender, and scored on the doorstep to cut the deficit down to 10-7 entering the break.
 
In the second stanza, Christopher Newport continued chipping away at Salisbury's lead. First, Creekmore brushed aside a free-position attempt before the hosts broke loose on a quick clear. On the other end of the field, Lindsay Connell capped off the march with a missile on the move after snatching a feed from Leighty.
 
Continuing to star on both sides of the field, Hope Hunter picked off an errant clear attempt to thwart Salisbury's response. Later, Joely Stevens absolutely bullied an attacker on the far side of the field and eventually dislodged the ball before handing it back to the offense.
 
On the other end, Leighty came back with her second assist after dropping a dime over several Sea Gulls. On the receiving end, Dyer caught the pass on the move and never broke stride before slamming home her fourth goal, which cut the deficit down to one at 10-9.
 
With work left to do, Williams controlled the ensuing draw before Dyer went back on the attack again. This time, the junior earned two straight free-position attempts. On her second try, she came through with the equalizer. As two defenders crashed down on her, she used a beautiful stutter-step to create a little space before blistering a screamer into the back of the net, which knotted the score at 10.
 
Following a timeout, Salisbury came out re-energized. Although Creekmore stoned their first two attempts, the visitors kept pressuring. Finally, with 17 minutes left in regulation, the Sea Gulls broke through to regain a lead. Six more goals followed as SU built a comfortable 17-10 edge in the waning moments of the contest.
 
Still fighting, Dyer came back with her final tally. Once again, she took advantage from the eight-meter arc after depositing a dart in the top right corner of the cage.
 
Sadly, Salisbury quickly shot back with two more goals to close out the 19-11 win.
 
Overall, SU out-shot Christopher Newport, 32-26, and held a 13-8 lead in ground balls. Buoyed by Wettengel's historic performance, the Captains led the way in draw controls, 18-14. Additionally, Emma Jackson controlled a pair while also anchoring the back line for the hosts.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday when the team travels to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania for an 11 a.m. tilt at Moravian.
 
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