NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Abby Asuncion pieced together one of the most incredible offensive showcases in program history while carrying the 17th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team to a 6-2 victory over Mary Washington during the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Semifinals on a stunning Wednesday evening at Jennings Family Stadium.

Against the Eagles, the senior standout played a role in all six goals while posting three strikes and three assists. Her nine points equaled the third-highest total by a Captain and the most since former legend Lindsay Hendricks collected 10 in a victory over Gwynedd-Mercy in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on November 7, 2012. Fittingly, Hendricks was in attendance on Wednesday to witness Asuncion's historic eruption.

Meanwhile, Wednesday's game also marked Asuncion's fourth career hat-trick, tying Christopher Newport Hall of Famer Wendy Wilson for the most in school history. Additionally, her three assists equaled the fourth-most in a single game in program lore.

With her performance against the Eagles, Asuncion also vaulted up the career leaderboards. The Sterling, Virginia native now ranks fourth on the goals list with 38, moving her three shy of the school record. Her 91 points also stand fifth on the all-time charts.

In addition to Asuncion's efforts, Emma Logue deposited her fourth game-winning goal of the season, while Katie Abendschoen and Emily Evans also found the back of the cage. Evans' strike was her eighth of the season, matching the third-most by a freshman in school history.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 14-4 on the season and advances to the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Championship for a date with No. 1 Salisbury on Saturday. The setback drops Mary Washington to 5-13.

From the very beginning, Asuncion set the tone on the offensive end. Less than 90 seconds into the first quarter, she secured a pass from Lainey Pratzner just inside the circle. With a defender in her face, she pulled it around the Eagle and flipped a feed to Logue, who converted along the right pipe for the game's opening strike.

After assisting on the first goal, Asuncion came back with a dagger of her own in the sixth minute. Off a penalty corner, Marcella Sabbagh absolutely rocketed a shot towards the cage. Although the keeper managed to get a pad on the screamer, it spun right out to Asuncion, who quickly settled the rebound. With possession, she rifled a one-timer inside the left post, which gave the hosts a fast 2-0 lead.

Staring at a deficit, the Eagles fired back in the second quarter after capitalizing on their own corner in the 17th minute. Shortly thereafter, Mary Washington attempted to pull even, but Sabbagh ripped possession from an attacker near the top of the arc before Morgan Arthur won control from another Eagle during a one-on-one duel in the left corner.

Following the defensive stand, the offense went back to work. With less than two minutes left in the first half, the Captains collected another corner. After a perfect insert by Chloe Thompson, Asuncion shuffled a pass over to Abendschoen, who was stationed on the left side of the zone. With Sabbagh screening a defender on the inside, the second-year star slipped a bullet through the crowd to snatch a 3-1 edge entering the break.

After halftime, Christopher Newport stretched its advantage as Asuncion capped off her hat-trick. In the 32nd minute, she secured a pass from Pratzner, circled across the top of the zone, and planted a seed inside the left pipe. Moments later, after Arthur grabbed control along the right sideline, she sliced a pass through five defenders. On the receiving end, Asuncion took the ball, pulled around a sixth Eagle, and launched a scorcher into the top right corner of the cage for her third tally of the contest.

Trailing 5-1, Mary Washington tried to climb out of its hole but struggled to find momentum. Asuncion and Logue both intercepted clear attempts near midfield to stymie several rallies early in the third period. Later, the visitors worked the ball down the field but continued to hit roadblocks.

On a breakaway in the 40th minute, Lily Kerr stayed calm. Unfazed by the situation, she walled off the cage with a diving play along the left post. Shortly thereafter, Thompson blocked three shots during a two-minute window, including back-to-back rips off a corner. Then, in the waning moments of the period, Brooke Billhimer stoned an attempt along the end line before cracking it out of the circle to end the threat.

Although Mary Washington eventually found a tiny opening to pull back within three before the end of the third quarter, Christopher Newport shook off the stumble in the fourth stanza. On the defensive side, Logue stuck to an attacker and rode her around the arc to prevent an early shot before intercepting a pass just seconds later to kill off the rally.

Following the defensive stand, the attack added one final highlight in the 50th minute. After Asuncion picked off a feed near the offensive 25, she pushed in and broke down a defender near the top of the arc to free up a little space. With some room to work, she unloaded a howitzer on the right side of the circle. Blistering towards the cage, the ball eventually deflected off Evans' stick and buried itself between the pipes for the game's final tally.

Holding a 6-2 lead, the defense did the rest. Throwing a blanket over the turf, the Captains rarely let the Eagles slip past midfield. Over the final 10 minutes, Billhimer, Arthur, and Alexis Morales all broke up runs in the middle of the field, while Sabbagh cut down a clear attempt along the right sideline to help punctuate the victory.

Overall, Christopher Newport out-shot Mary Washington, 38-11, and held an 11-4 lead in corners. Meanwhile, Kerr finished with three saves to earn her 11th victory over the season.

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