Live Stats // Video Stream

SALISBURY, Md. -- For the first time in program history, the Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team will compete for a league championship as the ninth-ranked Captains head to No. 3 Salisbury for the Coast-to-Coast Conference title bout, which will take place on Saturday at Sea Gull Stadium beginning at 1 p.m.

Entering the championship game, Christopher Newport sits at 11-4 on the season, while Salisbury is 12-1. Meanwhile, the Captains are 6-2 on the road this year, and the Sea Gulls are a perfect 8-0 at home.

Adhering to the school's COVID-19 policy, visiting fans are not permitted to attend Salisbury's home games this spring. However, the Sea Gulls will provide live stats and a video stream of the action at SUSeaGulls.com. Direct links to both features can be found at the top of this release and on the schedule page.

Christopher Newport advanced to the program's first conference championship after upending Southern Virginia, 14-11, in the semifinals on Wednesday at Jennings Family Stadium. Against the Knights, Dylan Rice contributed four points, including his third consecutive hat-trick. Over his last three games, the reigning Coast-to-Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Week has 19 total points, including 13 goals.

Along with Rice, Robby Adams handed out three assists during the squad's win over the Knights, while Miles Collins and Jackson Deal had two strikes apiece. Meanwhile, on the defensive end, Campbell Pozin had three takeaways, Jack Cook secured five ground balls, and Zac Hanway added 13 saves.

With their work against SVU, several Captains climbed up the program's all-time single-season charts in a variety of categories. Rice now has 37 goals this year, which ranks seventh on the all-time list. Hanway also moved to 10th in saves after wrapping up Wednesday with 138 this season, while Zack Sands now ranks sixth in program history with 78 ground balls. His 78 rollers and 144 faceoff victories also stand second on the school's all-time freshman lists.

Salisbury advanced to the conference championship for the 21st straight season after beating St. Mary's (Md.), 28-3, in the semifinals. Against the Seahawks, the three-time defending champions picked up eight points, including four goals, from Cross Ferrara, while Brett Malamphy won 15 of his 16 faceoff attempts. The senior All-American also nabbed 13 ground balls and scored a goal against SMC.

Overall this season, Salisbury ranks fourth in the nation in shooting percentage (.383), seventh in goals-per-game (20.85), and 11th in faceoff percentage (.682). On an individual level, Ferrara is sixth in the nation in goals (65), and T.J. Ellis is eighth in goals-against-average (6.00). 

The two teams have faced off twice this season with the Sea Gulls capturing the first meeting, 25-12, in Maryland, before winning the second bout, 17-5, in Newport News. Overall, SU holds a 10-1 edge in the series dating back to the first meeting in 2014.

The winner of Saturday's game will secure the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which begins next week. The selection show will air on Sunday at 9 p.m. on NCAA.com.

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