SALISBURY, Md. -- Battling until the bitter end, the ninth-ranked Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team scored four times in the fourth quarter to cut its deficit down to two with less than three minutes remaining in regulation, but No. 3 Salisbury had enough left in the tank to hold on for a 12-9 victory during the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday afternoon at Sea Gull Stadium.
 
Earning a spot in the title bout for the first time in program history, the Captains kept pace with the high-powered Sea Gulls, who captured their fourth consecutive conference crown. Seniors Dylan Rice and Will Stockhausen both had three points for Christopher Newport, while Brady Altobello and Coby Auslander also added two goals apiece.
 
Meanwhile, on the defensive end, Zac Hanway contributed 12 saves for the Captains, marking his seventh double-digit effort of the season. The man-down defense was also exceptional during the contest as Christopher Newport brushed aside all five of Salisbury's extra-man opportunities.
 
With the setback, the Captains fall to 11-5 on the season, while the victory bumps Salisbury to 13-1 and guarantees the Sea Gulls a spot in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
 
After SU slipped out to an early 1-0 lead, Salisbury had an opportunity to stretch the advantage with a pair of man-up situations. Standing tall while shorthanded, Aidan FitzGerald intercepted a feed deep in the zone to thwart the first rally before Hanway inched out of the crease and pounced on a pass that hit the turf to cut down on the next attempt.
 
Equally effective during even-strength situations, Phoenix Hines tied up an attacker during a lengthy surge and forced an errant shot, which was backed up by the Captains. Later, after SU came through with its second strike, Hanway made three straight saves, including a gorgeous stop during a quick transition with three minutes left in the period.
 
Staring at a 2-0 deficit, Christopher Newport needed to find some rhythm on the offensive end. With time ticking down in the opening stanza, the visitors turned to a pair of first-team All-League selections. Pushing in from the left side, Rice drew the attention of three defenders. In the center of the field, Altobello moved in, filled the vacated space, and secured the pass. With possession, the junior changed levels and burned a low liner past the keeper to cut the deficit down to 2-1.
 
Keeping the momentum early in the second quarter, the Captains quickly evened the score. After the Sea Gulls were hit with a penalty, Christopher Newport took advantage. At the top of the zone, Stockhausen glanced towards the center of the field, which forced the defense to shift just enough to open an alley for Rice. Storming in towards the left post, the senior caught a feed, ducked under a long-pole, and struck on the doorstep.

That strike marked Rice's 20th career extra-man tally, pushing him past former legend Will Geise for the most in program history.
 
Back on even ground, the Captains tried to slow down SU's response. Handling another man-down situation, FitzGerald closed out on an attacker on the right side, which forced a quick shot that Hanway gobbled up on his knees. Later, Campbell Pozin swallowed a blast to thwart another surge, but Salisbury eventually capitalized on its unwavering assault to slip out to a 5-2 lead.
 
Once again, Christopher Newport was in search of an answer on the offensive side. With less than four minutes remaining in the first half, the visitors found an opening. Pushing in from the left side, Altobello benefited from a screen set by Alex Brendes, which disrupted a pair of defenders. Slipping in towards the post, he was faced with a tough angle but still found the back of the cage after skipping a shot off the turf that tucked just under the crossbar for the team's third goal of the game.
 
Although Salisbury regained its three-goal lead just before halftime, the Captains fired back in the third quarter. In the first four minutes of the new period, Christopher Newport tossed a pair of goals on the board. First, Max Wayne punctuated a surge by the Sea Gulls with an interception on the left side of the field. With possession, the visitors pushed the tempo on the clear before Pozin flipped the ball back to Auslander, who unloaded a screamer from the top of the zone.
 
Less than three minutes later, Auslander returned to the offensive end. Bolting up the field, he drew some attention on the right side. Without a solid look at the cage, the sophomore star tossed the ball behind the crease to Jackson Deal. With the defense scrambling, Stockhausen filled some space in the center of the field, snared a pass from Deal, and slammed on the interior for his first goal of the game.
 
Still looking at a 7-5 deficit, Christopher Newport pieced together one of the longest offensive stands of the season midway through the third quarter. After Ryan Young ripped the ball away from the Sea Gulls, the attack went to work. Searching for an opening, Stockhausen kept possession of the ball despite two defenders draped on his back. After a timeout, Altobello and Brendes ripped on-target attempts, but both were kicked away.
 
Keeping possession, Rice won a lengthy battle for the loose ball to extend the rally. Although SU eventually grabbed control and attempted a clear, Deal shut it down with a check along the right sideline to force a turnover, which handed the ball back to the attack.
 
Unfortunately, after another on-target blast by Auslander was snuffed out by the Sea Gulls, the Captains came away empty-handed despite the relentless, three-minute rally.
 
Following their defensive stand, the Sea Gulls went back to work on the other side of the field. Although Young and Jack Cook starred during another man-down situation with five minutes left in the third quarter, the hosts eventually added two late goals before stretching their lead to 10-5 early in the fourth stanza.
 
Staring at a five-goal deficit, Christopher Newport dug in and mounted a comeback. Kicking things off, Stockhausen whistled a man-up missile from long range before a defender could close out at the top of the zone. On the ensuing faceoff, Hines and Zack Sands applied persistent pressure, badgering a Sea Gull all over the turf before forcing him into tight quarters and causing a turnover.
 
Shortly thereafter, Rice kept the offense humming as the senior found himself isolated one-on-one. Lowering his shoulder, he barreled through his defender before spinning to his left and unleashing a dagger, which cut Salisbury's lead down to 10-7 with eight minutes remaining in regulation.
 
Although the Sea Gulls momentarily responded with their 11th goal, Christopher Newport fired right back. With five minutes left, Auslander cut up the field on the right side, slipped under his defender, and dove towards the crease while depositing a shot just before crashing down on the turf.
 
Back within three, Hanway won a race for a loose ball behind the crease on the defensive end. Showing his athleticism, he snatched the roller on a sprint towards the end line and flipped the ball back to Burke Widhelm just before landing out-of-bounds.
 
Following a successful clear, Christopher Newport took advantage on the other end. On the play, Brendes slipped a pass to Deal, who circled around the right pipe and fired a shot past the earhole of the SU keeper to cut the deficit down to 11-9 with less than three minutes remaining in regulation.
 
With work left to do, the Captains were hit with another penalty, but the man-down unit stepped up again. This time, Hanway went low and made his 12th save of the game to give the squad a chance. Unfortunately, Christopher Newport came up empty on the offensive side as Salisbury held on before adding one final nail just before the horn sounded to close out the win.
 
During the game, the Captains held a 40-38 edge in shots, while the Sea Gulls led the way in ground balls, 38-26, and won 17 of the game's 23 faceoffs. Young paced Christopher Newport with six rollers to go along with two takeaways, while Hanway added five ground balls in addition to his 12 saves.
 
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