SALISBURY, Md. -- The fifth-ranked Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team dropped a 25-12 decision to second-ranked Salisbury during a Coast-to-Coast Conference battle on Saturday afternoon at Sea Gull Stadium.
 
During the top-five showdown, Alex Brendes led the Captains with his third hat-trick of the season. With that performance, he extended his scoring streak to 14 consecutive games with at least one goal. That equals the sixth-longest run in program history.
 
Along with Brendes, Drew Miller also added three points against the Sea Gulls, while Dylan Rice had a pair of tallies. Overall, 12 different Captains registered at least one point during the game, including three long-poles.
 
Meanwhile, Zack Sands did yeoman's work at the 'x' against Salisbury. Going head-to-head with the 2019 USILA National Face-Off Specialist of the Year, Sands took 31 attempts, which marked the most by a Captain since All-American Tony Cruz had 37 against Illinois Wesleyan on March 14, 2018. Eventually, the freshman won 13 of his battles while grabbing eight ground balls.
 
With the setback, Christopher Newport falls to 6-2 on the season, including 1-1 against conference competition. On the other side, Salisbury now sits at 7-1 with a 3-0 mark in league action.
 
Early on, the Captains opened the scoring after Miller capitalized on a heads-up play. Less than two minutes into regulation, Christopher Newport attempted to send a pass into the heart of the Salisbury defense. Although the ball was deflected and kicked by an SU defender, Miller never lost track of it. Keeping his wits, the sophomore snatched the deflection on the doorstep before launching a low liner into the back of the net.
 
Later in the opening period, the visitors faced a man-down situation, but Zac Hanway brushed aside an attempt before Aidan FitzGerald won a race to the back line to flip possession. Moments later, after the hosts were hit with a penalty, the Captains showcased their own power-play unit. Working the ball around the field, Will Stockhausen found Rice, who connected with Miller on the left side of the crease. Capping off the play, Miller fed across the zone to Brendes, who banged one home along the right pipe.
 
Unfortunately, the Sea Gulls continued to answer every Christopher Newport goal with a run of their own. Eventually, the hosts slipped out to a 7-2 lead early in the second stanza.
 
Needing to regroup, the offense went to work. Leading the resurgence, Miller put on a show. First, the second-year star laced a liner just under the crossbar. Less than two minutes later, he was blasted behind the crease with an illegal hit that drew a flag. Despite laying on the turf, he managed to keep the play alive and flip a perfect feed to Rice, who curled around the left pipe and deposited his first tally.
 
Continuing the resurgence, Max Wayne stripped a Sea Gull on the defensive end before handing the ball back to the attack. With another possession, Stockhausen fed across the top of the zone to Brady Altobello, who flashed some firepower with a long-range rocket into the left corner of the cage, which cut Christopher Newport's deficit down to three at 8-5.
 
After Salisbury answered on the other end, Sands won the ensuing battle at midfield. With the faceoff unit still on the turf, Sands connected with one of his wings as Jack Cook took possession and tossed the ball up the field to Rice, who launched a sidewinder from the left side.
 
A few minutes later, another long-pole joined the fun on the offensive end. Following a terrific stop by Hanway, Christopher Newport faced a tough clear. Eventually, Ryan Young pushed his way across midfield before handing the ball off to Robby Adams, who snapped a dart inside the left pipe for the team's seventh goal of the first half.
 
Unfortunately, Salisbury fired right back. The hosts scored three straight goals to close out the second period before adding two more at the start of the third quarter, which gave the Sea Gulls a commanding 17-7 lead.
 
Still fighting, Sands forced a turnover with a trail-check midway through the third stanza. On the other end, Jackson Deal capitalized after shaking a defender with a classic cutback along the left side of the zone. Later, Stockhausen battled through contact and split two defenders with a burner under the crossbar for Christopher Newport's ninth goal of the contest.
 
Trailing by double-digits entering the fourth quarter, the Captains never relented on either end of the field. Early on, Burke Widhelm deflected a shot from the left side before Brandon Young intercepted a pass just moments later. Keeping up the effort on the defensive side, Steven Cornwell flipped possession after winning a sprint to the sideline following an errant shot, while Cook rode the hip of an attacker before forcing a turnover with a stick lift on Salisbury's next trip down the field.
 
Although SU eventually broke through again, Michael Brost bullied the opposition on the ensuing faceoff. Shadowing a pair of Sea Gulls all over the field, he eventually came through with a takeaway along the left sideline. Taking advantage, Brendes pushed in, snapped to his right, and bounced a bullet into the back of the cage for his second tally.
 
Shortly thereafter, Brendes completed his hat-trick after elevating in a one-on-one situation before skipping in another dagger with seven minutes left in regulation.
 
In the waning moments, Christopher Newport came through with one final highlight. Thomas Brackett closed off the right pipe and stoned a wraparound attempt before grabbing the rebound and jump-starting a clear. With the Captains on the move, Brett Kropinski dished to Phoenix Hines, who unloaded a long-pole laser into the bottom left corner of the cage for the game's final goal.
 
Overall, Salisbury held a 45-35 advantage in shots and a 40-20 lead in ground balls. The Sea Gulls also won 22 of the game's 40 faceoffs. Along with Sands' 13 victories, Brost went 4-for-5, while Cole Evans added a triumph as well.
 
Christopher Newport will face a quick turnaround as the Captains return to action on Sunday when they host Colorado College at noon.
 
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