NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Four different Captains found the back of the cage as the Christopher Newport field hockey team extended its winning streak to seven straight games with a 4-1 triumph over Susquehanna on Monday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.

Headlining the squad's offensive work, Abby Asuncion notched a goal and two assists. With her four points, she bumped her career total to 80, tying former standout Lauren Cheatham for eighth on the program's all-time scoring charts.

Along with Asuncion, Marcella Sabbagh deposited her sixth penalty stroke of the year, which extended her own single-season program record. Meanwhile, Alexis Morales and Emily Evans also landed daggers to round out the goal-scorers.

On the other end of the field, Lily Kerr continued her incredible run. The reigning Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week picked up her eighth consecutive victory while notching three saves. Prior to Susquehanna's first goal on Monday, she extended her shutout streak to 213 minutes dating back to October 2. That marked the fourth-longest run by a freshman goalie in program history, trailing only former legends Elexa Nosonchuk (424:48 in 2007), Emma Stout (224:15 in 2006), and Bailey Lien (223:34 in 2013).

Adding even more luster to her accomplishment, Kerr made 17 total saves during her scoreless stretch. Putting that into perspective, Nosonchuk had 13 stops during her record-setting run in 2007, while Lien had six saves and Stout posted five during their shutout streaks.

Overall, Christopher Newport now stands at 11-3 on the season. On the other side, the setback snapped Susquehanna's nine-game winning streak and dropped the River Hawks to 12-4.

Facing a defense that had allowed just one total goal over the past six games, the Captains struck early. Unfazed by the high-caliber opposition, the squad went right to work. In the eighth minute, Asuncion pulled to her left and scooted behind the keeper along the left pipe. Although a defender was able to block her ensuing shot along the end line, the ball caught the body of the River Hawk and earned the hosts a penalty stroke.

Taking the shot, Sabbagh went straight up the gut. The senior blasted a rocket, and although the keeper managed to get a pad on the screamer, it had enough mustard to spin into the back of the cage for the game's first strike.

Staring at an early deficit, Susquehanna attempted to respond. Standing tall against the mounting pressure, Brooke Billhimer slowed down a run along the right post before the visitors secured a corner. Holding steady, Kerr kicked away a long rip from the top of the arc before Asuncion blocked a shot along the edge of the circle to keep the River Hawks at bay.

After withstanding Susquehanna's surge, Christopher Newport retaliated on the other end. Kicking off the rally, Morales ripped the ball away from a River Hawk near midfield. Moments later, Vivian Pope battled her way through two defenders before slicing a feed up to Asuncion, who took control at the top of the arc.

With a pair of players in her way, Asuncion simply circled to her left, pulled back to her right, and whistled a low liner past the keeper for the squad's second tally in the 14th minute.

Trailing 2-0, Susquehanna had one final rally in the first quarter after garnering a penalty corner in the waning moments of the period. Fortunately, Morales was there to block a shot on the right side of the zone to keep the opposition scoreless.

After a quiet first period, the River Hawks finally cracked the scoreboard midway through the second stanza to pull back within one. Undaunted by the resurgence, Christopher Newport brushed off the momentary stumble and quickly regrouped on the back end.

Putting a lid on Susquehanna's attack, Sabbagh picked off a pass near midfield on the visitors' next rally before Chloe Thompson stoned a run later in the period. Shortly thereafter, Billhimer picked the pockets of an attacker along the right pipe in the final minutes to keep the one-goal advantage.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Christopher Newport nearly landed a last-second blow just before halftime. After securing possession, Emma Logue threaded a pass up the sideline to Maddison Steele, who won a race for the ball and immediately broke into the circle. Although the initial push was stymied, Morales intercepted a clear along the right side of the arc, but the clock ran out before any damage could be done.

Following the break, Susquehanna appeared to be re-energized in the third quarter. Pressuring the Captains from the very start of the second half, the visitors nearly broke through. Billhimer blocked a shot along the left pipe before Kerr punted a pair of on-target blasts out of the circle following a corner.

Later, Morgan Arthur disrupted a sprint up the left sideline with a beautiful tackle before Billhimer put on an epic showcase. During the middle of the period, the sophomore deflected another shot near the top of the arc before snatching a high rocket in the middle of the zone. Shortly thereafter, she raced back and caught up to a 3-on-2 rush while stripping possession from an attacker to stunt the surge.

Still pushing back against Susquehanna's advances, Katie Abendschoen had a tackle along the defensive 25, while Lainey Pratzner bottled up a rally near the right sideline to wall off another threat.

Following the defensive highlights, Christopher Newport stretched its lead in the 42nd minute. On a corner, Thompson found Asuncion at the top of the circle. After cutting to her right to avoid Susquehanna's flyer, the senior All-American muscled a shot into the middle of the zone. Perfectly situated on the inside, Morales found a little space, dropped low, and launched a deflection into the top left corner of the cage for a 3-1 lead.

Entering the fourth quarter, Christopher Newport put the game on ice with a dominant performance on both ends of the field. First, on the back side, Morales intercepted a pass deep inside the circle before Billhimer blocked her third shot of the game.

Later, on the other side, Asuncion added one final offensive highlight. After pushing the ball into the circle, she found herself face-to-face with a wall of defenders. Handling the tight quarters, she barreled her way through a pair of River Hawks on the right side of the zone. With the rest of the defense flowing her way, she quickly went against the tide and slipped a pass to the left side of the circle.

Spinning past four more defenders, the ball eventually found its way to Evans' stick. Without hesitating, the freshman settled the roller and fired it past the keeper for the game's final tally.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 22-11 advantage in shots and a 9-5 lead in corners. 

The Captains will return to action on Friday when the squad travels to Memphis, Tennessee for a noon test at Rhodes.

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