BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Cat Leighty erupted for nine points and was one of five Captains with a multi-goal effort as the 20th-ranked Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team took down Moravian, 17-13, during a non-conference contest on Saturday afternoon at John Makuvek Field.
 
Torching the competition with an unrelenting assault, Leighty finished her day with five goals and four assists. The senior posted five points in the first 30 minutes while helping the visitors build a healthy halftime lead. After the hosts battled back in the second stanza, she led the response with four more points, including the final dagger to polish off the victory.
 
In addition to Leighty, Zoe Dyer chipped in with four goals, while Sam Wettengel, Sloane McDonald, and Syd Guidi all had two apiece. Wettengel also led the squad with five draw controls, pushing her season total to 77. That now stands as the fourth-most by a Captain in school history. The senior also added her 23rd takeaway of the year, matching the 10th-highest total in program lore.
 
In addition to Wettengel's work on the defensive end, Becca Creekmore came through with 10 saves, including three on free-position attempts. The second-year goalie also added two takeaways and a pair of ground balls during a well-rounded showcase.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport now stands at 9-6 on the year. The setback drops Moravian to 4-4.
 
In a sign of things to come, the two teams traded runs in the early part of the contest. Wettengel kicked things off with a low liner less than five minutes into regulation before Julia Iapicca cut past a defender and unloaded the squad's second goal just a few moments later.
 
After the hosts fired back and knotted the game at two, Leighty stepped up with a remarkable run. Flashing her complete arsenal, she assisted on darts by Wettengel and Gracie Sanders. Equally effective at finishing, she added three goals of her own, including a gorgeous play in the 18th minute that saw her dip inside the right shoulder of a defender, burst towards the cage, and slam on the brakes while toeing the crease on the way to her first goal of the contest.
 
Guided by Leighty's rally, the Captains built a 7-5 lead with three minutes remaining in the opening stanza. Although Moravian tossed another goal on the board, Christopher Newport fired right back while punctuating the first half in style.
 
With two minutes remaining, Dyer pieced together a fantastic run. Blanketed by two defenders, she simply took care of them by herself. First, she spun to her left but was unable to find an opening. Showing her athleticism, she simply spun back to her right, split the two Greyhounds, and fired on the move for her first goal.
 
After Wettengel secured the ensuing draw, McDonald capitalized in the final minute. Blowing past a defender on the left side of the zone, she ducked under a second player before scoring on the interior, which gave Christopher Newport a 9-6 advantage.
 
Following the break, Moravian found its rhythm. During a three-minute window, the hosts scored four straight goals, which earned them a 10-9 lead. Unfazed by the comeback, the Captains rallied.
 
On the defensive side, Hope Hunter stuck to an attacker on the left side of the zone and forced a dangerous pass towards the center of the field. Taking advantage, Sanders jumped the feed, forced a turnover, and cruised up the turf to end a threat by the Greyhounds. Later, after Moravian regained possession, Creekmore brushed aside back-to-back rips, including an eight-meter missile.
 
Fittingly, on the other end, Leighty jump-started the offense again. Midway through the period, she dropped a rainbow over a defender to McDonald, who caught the feed and drove home the equalizer. Just over a minute later, Guidi broke the deadlock after shaking a defender with a stutter-step before ripping her first strike of the game.
 
Three minutes later, Guidi came back for more. This time, she took possession behind the cage while facing a one-on-one situation. Pushing to her left, she was able to get her defender off-balance before cutting back to her right, curling around the pipe, and slamming on the doorstep for a 12-10 advantage.
 
Looking for a little more breathing room, Dyer took over. Carving up the defense, the junior scored back-to-back goals along the left pipe, which gave the visitors a 14-10 lead with less than nine minutes remaining in regulation.
 
Although Moravian made things interesting again with three straight tallies, the Captains never lost their lead. Leighty added two late goals, including a highlight-reel effort that saw her cruise past five different defenders before depositing on the interior. Meanwhile, Dyer also painted the right side of the cage on a free-position attempt, which helped ice the 17-13 win.
 
Overall, Moravian out-shot the Captains, 38-33, and held a 23-14 edge in ground balls. The hosts also controlled 17 of the game's 31 draws, but Christopher Newport was able to withstand the statistical shortcomings with a victory on the scoreboard. Emma Jackson put together a solid effort with three draws, two ground balls, and a takeaway, while Dyer also caused a pair of turnovers to keep the Greyhounds on their heels.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Tuesday when the team travels to Raleigh, North Carolina for a 5 p.m. tilt at Meredith.
 
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