GLASSBORO, N.J. -- Despite a valiant effort on both sides of the ball, the 16th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team could not quite overcome the high-powered Rowan attack as the third-ranked Profs registered a 4-0 victory during the second round of the NCAA Tournament on a sun-splashed Saturday afternoon at Coach Richard Wackar Stadium in Glassboro, New Jersey.

Although the Captains played even with the Profs throughout much of the contest, Christopher Newport could not quite crack the cage despite unloading nine on-target shots. Meanwhile, on the defensive side, Lily Kerr chipped in with four saves and stood tall against Rowan's veteran-laden attack. The freshman keeper made a host of sensational stops and also benefited from a gorgeous defensive save by Brooke Billhimer to keep the game within reach entering the final few minutes of regulation.

With the setback, Christopher Newport punctuated its 2022 campaign with a 15-6 record. The 15 victories equaled the sixth-highest total in school history. Meanwhile, the win bumped Rowan to 20-1 on the season and earned the Profs a spot in the Elite Eight, which will be played on Sunday at 1 p.m.

In the early going, Christopher Newport set the tone with some solid work on the defensive end. Alexis Morales had two interceptions along the right sideline, while Billhimer snatched a long rip by the Profs, weaved through traffic, and cleared the circle. Moments later, Rowan had an attacker leaking free in the center of the field in the fifth minute, but Marcella Sabbagh stayed deep and intercepted a feed near the edge of the circle to prevent a breakaway.

Following the defensive work, the Captains secured back-to-back corners in the ninth minute. On the first attempt, Morales caught the right post with a rip before a follow-up shot was stoned by the keeper. Then, on the second try, Sabbagh had a bullet punted by the goalie.

Unfortunately, after the defensive stand, Rowan broke the scoreless deadlock after capitalizing on a corner with six minutes remaining in the period.

After the restart, Christopher Newport tried to fight back. Delaney Norr helped push the ball up the field before the Captains earned two straight corners in just over a minute of action. However, Sabbagh and Katie Abendschoen had shots blocked along the edge of the arc. Following the second deflection, the Profs burst free on a breakaway headed in the opposition direction.

Facing a one-on-one with an attacker, Kerr came out of the cage and forced the Prof to pull the ball back into the center of the circle. With the delay, Billhimer had enough time to race back into the play and make a diving stop along the mouth of the cage to stone an on-target rip.

Although the pressure continued, Kerr punched a screamer over the crossbar with an outstretched save to keep the deficit at one entering the second period.

Looking to extend its lead, Rowan tested Christopher Newport's back line immediately after the break. Just over a minute into the period, the Profs secured a corner, but Abby Asuncion flew out of the cage and forced an errant pass at the top of the arc. Later, the hosts orchestrated another rally with numbers on their side, but Kerr made a diving play in the middle of the circle to break up a crosser. Shortly thereafter, she came back with another sliding stop to kick away an on-target laser.

After the defense did its part, the Captains orchestrated an unbelievable clear up the left sideline. Kicking things off, Chloe Thompson broke the ankles of a Prof before Morales lifted the ball, juggled it past a midfielder, and handed it to the attack. With some room to work, Maddison Steele and Emily Evans burst into the zone and secured a corner, but Asuncion's ensuing attempt was blocked on the interior.

Less than two minutes later, Steele pushed her way back into the circle with a defender draped all over her. Eventually, she secured another corner, but Sabbagh's rocket sailed past the left post. Shortly thereafter, the Captains orchestrated a 3-on-2 rush that resulted in the squad's third corner of the period, but Rowan's goalie made a kick save on a smash by Sabbagh to keep the visitors off the board.

Meanwhile, on the defensive end, Christopher Newport continued to push back against several Rowan surges. In the 24th minute, Abendschoen served as the flyer on a corner and blocked a shot at the top of the arc. Later, in the waning moments of the first half, the Profs had the chance to convert on a dangerous rally inside the circle, but Vivian Pope pounced on a loose ball and disrupted a pass on the interior to stonewall the last-ditch attack.

After halftime, Christopher Newport mounted a solid attack early in the third quarter. Kicking things off with a corner, Emma Logue connected with Abendschoen, who smashed a one-timer from the top of the zone. Down low, Morales stopped the tracer in front of the keeper and attempted a backhand on the doorstep, but it was kicked away at the last second.

Later, a bouncer dribbled free inside the arc. Steele quickly settled the roller and tried to pull it around the keeper. Although the goalie made a sprawling play to break up the initial rally, Steele kept possession and attempted to push in again along the left pipe. Sadly, her second try met a similar fate as the Prof made a sliding stop along the post to end the surge.

Unfortunately, after the Captains came away empty-handed on the offensive end, Rowan took advantage of a corner on the other side to snatch a 2-0 lead in the 38th minute.

Staring at a larger hole, Christopher Newport dug in and pieced together a late push towards the end of the period. Kicking things off, Steele had a centering feed that just hopped over Asuncion's stick in the middle of the circle. Moments later, Evans pushed the tempo on the left side of the field and blasted a knuckler that handcuffed a defender and gave the squad a last-second corner.

With a decent look at the cage, Sabbagh slipped a pass over to Asuncion, but her turnaround attempt was bottled up along the end line.

Looking to put the game on ice, Rowan kicked off the fourth quarter with an offensive onslaught. Early on, the Profs had an advantage on the left side of the field, but Morales broke up a feed along the post. Shortly thereafter, Billhimer disrupted a rally near the right sideline before Morales deflected a laser over the cage.

Continuing the defensive stand, Kerr swatted a rainbow out of the air that nearly dropped over the end line. Then, on two consecutive corners, Abendschoen forced a shot to sail wide before Morales brushed aside a pass on the interior.

With time winding down, Christopher Newport tried to pick up the pressure. In the middle of the period, Asuncion had a rally turned away along the edge of the circle. Then, with six minutes left, Evans wiggled her way free and whipped a shot from the left side, but the keeper got a pad on it at the last second.

Unfazed, the Captains regrouped and fired back again. This time, Lainey Pratzner had some room to work on the right side of the zone. With Morgan Arthur slipping free on the opposite end, Pratzner bounced a feed that skipped past a pair of defenders, but it just shot by Arthur's stick as well to end the rally.

Sadly, after surviving Christopher Newport's final advances, Rowan slapped a pair of late goals on the board in the last five minutes to wrap up the 4-0 triumph.

Overall, the Profs held a 19-11 advantage in shots, while both squads earned nine corners.

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