NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Facing the nation's leading offensive attack, the Christopher Newport field hockey team pieced together one of the finest defensive efforts in school history as the Captains shut out No. 13 Shenandoah, 2-0, on a beautiful Wednesday evening at Jennings Family Stadium.

During the contest, freshman Lily Kerr stepped up with a masterful performance. The first-year phenom registered 13 saves, which was the most by a Captain in over three years. It also marked the second-highest total during a shutout in program history, trailing only Brittany Bradsher's 14 stops during a 1-0 win over No. 15 Lynchburg on September 18, 2010.

Additionally, Kerr's 13 saves equaled the fourth-highest total by a freshman in school history and were the most by a first-year star since Samantha Pelstring had 24 against Mary Washington on October 19, 2003. Putting that into perspective, Kerr was born eight months after Pelstring's historic effort.

Along with Kerr, Chloe Thompson contributed a pair of defensive saves, including a momentum-turning play in the third quarter. With that performance, she became just the 10th player in school history to record at least two stops against a nationally-ranked opponent.

Making the defensive domination even more impressive, the Captains accomplished all of that against the high-powered Hornet attack, which entered Wednesday ranked first in the nation with a 6.08 goals-per-game average. Shenandoah had scored at least two goals in every game this season and notched at least one strike in 42 consecutive outings dating back to 2019.

On the offensive end, Maddison Steele deposited the game-winning goal for Christopher Newport with a bullet in the 25th minute. Later, Marcella Sabbagh added some breathing room after converting her school-record fifth penalty stroke of the year with five minutes remaining in regulation.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 10-3 on the season. The setback drops Shenandoah to 12-1.

Setting the tone early, Kerr slammed the door on a quick run by the visitors. Less than three minutes into the opening quarter, the Hornets unleashed an assault, but the freshman was up to the task. On an initial push, she made a sliding stop to cut off a low liner before jumping back on her feet to make a kick save on a follow-up attempt.

Shortly thereafter, Alexis Morales dipped low along the end line to knock away a secondary push before Sabbagh broke up a pass in the center of the circle to put an end to the onslaught.

After surviving Shenandoah's early advances, Christopher Newport tried to orchestrate a rally of its own later in the period. The hosts secured a corner in the 13th minute, but a missile by Sabbagh was kicked away by the keeper. Later, Morales and Emily Evans slipped free on a two-on-two surge, but they just missed connecting on a pass deep inside the circle.

Later, with just seconds remaining on the clock, Shenandoah put together one final burst. An attacker snuck behind the defense for a brief moment, but Thompson caught up to the play and disrupted the Hornet just enough before Kerr made another sliding tackle to end the threat.

After regaining some momentum at the end of the first quarter, Shenandoah continued to poke at Christopher Newport's defensive unit early in the second stanza. Standing tall against the opposition, Abby Asuncion intercepted a pass to break up an initial run before Thompson made a textbook tackle along the right side of the arc to wall off a secondary surge.

Stripping the Hornets all over the turf, Morgan Arthur came back with an interception near midfield, while Brooke Billhimer added another stop along the defensive 25. Although the visitors were eventually able to get back into the circle in the middle of the period, Kerr made another highlight-reel stop while sprawled out in front of the cage before Asuncion blocked a rip off a corner.

Looking to respond on the other end, Christopher Newport worked the ball down the field and kept it planted on the offensive side during a sustained rally in the 24th minute. Although the Hornets tried to clear the zone, Katie Abendschoen picked off a feed along the left sideline before Delaney Norr pressured a defender and forced an errant pass, which Steele quickly corralled.

After gaining possession, the second-year star barreled her way into the circle. Still facing a wall of Hornets, she simply wound up and rifled a one-timer that cut between three defenders. Eventually, it also skipped past Shenandoah's diving keeper and found its way into the back of the cage for a 1-0 lead.

Staring at a deficit, the visitors tried to even the score before halftime but struggled to find an opening. On Shenandoah's first trip back down the field, Billhimer gobbled up a roller inside the arc before carrying it out of harm's way.

Later, Kerr continued her acrobatic efforts along the end line. With five minutes remaining in the first half, the Hornets crowded the zone. Eventually, a dangerous centering feed slipped through the circle, bounced off the stick of a Captain, and landed at the feet of an attacker. Incredibly, Kerr dove across the mouth of the goal and made an out-stretched stop to kill off the first shot before adding another save while laying on the turf to stop the second attempt.

Fortunately, Sabbagh grabbed the rebound off the follow-up shot and knocked it out of the circle to give the defense a little breather.

Minutes later, the Hornets came back again on a breakaway, but Kerr made another diving save along the right post to keep Shenandoah scoreless entering the break.

Following halftime, the visitors kept up the pressure in the third quarter. Early in the period, Thompson headlined Christopher Newport's defensive efforts. First, she intercepted a crosser at the top of the arc to stymie Shenandoah's initial run. Moments later, following a scary rally in the 36th minute, she showcased some fancy stick work. On the play, she raced back to the end line and swatted away an on-target rocket while elevating just in front of the cage for a fantastic defensive save.

Unfazed by Thompson's efforts, Shenandoah continued to threaten Christopher Newport's back line later in the quarter. Sabbagh picked the pockets of an attacker along the right pipe before Morales made a tackle near the edge of the arc. Later, the Hornets earned three straight corners, but Kerr kicked away four shots, while Thompson intercepted a pass on the final try to end the onslaught.

After the defense handed possession back to the attack, Lainey Pratzner did tremendous work along the left side of the field to keep the ball on the offensive end. During a two-minute span, she broke up three different clear attempts by the Hornets, including two interceptions along the sideline. Later, in the final moments of the period, she snatched another roller along the offensive 25 to keep Shenandoah in check.

Still nurturing a one-goal lead, Christopher Newport dominated on both ends of the field in the fourth quarter. After withstanding constant pressure by the Hornets in the first three periods, the Captains controlled the tempo much better in the final frame. Although Shenandoah managed to slip down the field on a few rallies, the defense continued to brush them aside. On a breakaway in the middle of the stanza, Billhimer caught up to the play and stripped an attacker along the right pipe before she could even attempt a shot.

Later, Billhimer came back and picked off a long ball into the circle that nearly jump-started another rally, while Morales stuck to the hip of an attacker and forced an errant pass during Shenandoah's final surge.

Meanwhile, on the offensive end, the Captains added one final highlight. In the 55th minute, Asuncion slipped a feed down low to Norr. Applying pressure on the inside, she got the goalie to hit the turf along the right side of the zone. Eventually, the ball slipped out to Steele, who fired a screamer towards the cage. Along the end line, the spinner handcuffed a pair of defenders and earned the hosts a penalty stroke.

With a free shot, Sabbagh stepped up and smoked a blast just inside the right pipe, which put the finishing touches on the 2-0 victory.

Overall, Shenandoah held a 17-14 advantage in shots, while the Captains led the way in corners, 7-4.

Making Wednesday's festivities even more special, Christopher Newport held a halftime celebration to honor former legends Belle Tunstall and Kim Tomlin, who were officially inducted into the university's Athletics Hall of Fame last month. The ceremony seemed especially prescient given the outcome of the game. Bringing everything full circle, the last time the Captains defeated Shenandoah was on September 15, 2013 when Tunstall registered an assist during a 7-1 triumph. The last time the squad shut out the Hornets was on September 23, 2007 when Tomlin collected an assist during a 6-0 victory.

Christopher Newport will return to action on October 17 when the team concludes its four-game homestand with a noon test against Susquehanna.

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