SALISBURY, Md. -- Holding up against the high-powered Salisbury attack, the 17th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team kept pace with the top-ranked Sea Gulls before falling, 2-0, during the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday afternoon at Sea Gull Stadium.

During the battle, Brooke Billhimer registered her fourth defensive save of the year, while Lily Kerr posted three stops between the pipes. Meanwhile, Abby Asuncion, Marcella Sabbagh, and Alexis Morales all blocked shots to help slow down the Sea Gulls during the grueling 60-minute title bout.

For her work during the postseason, Asuncion was named to the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference All-Tournament Team alongside fellow standouts Katie Abendschoen and Chloe Thompson.

With the setback, Christopher Newport falls to 14-5 on the season, while the victory bumps Salisbury to 17-0 and hands the Sea Gulls their fourth straight conference crown.

At the outset, the Captains pieced together an early rush. Morales weaved her way through four defenders and unleashed a reverse chip, but the ball just sailed past the left post. Seconds later, Vivian Pope uncorked a dart from the top of the zone, but the Salisbury keeper booted it out of the circle.

Following the early assault on the offensive end, the defense stepped up on the other side. After the hosts marched down the field, Sabbagh blocked their first rip of the game. Although the Sea Gulls eventually secured a corner for their efforts, Kerr made a slick kick save to close off the left pipe.

Trading rallies, Lainey Pratzner drew a corner on the other end of the field in the eighth minute, but Abendschoen's ensuing bullet was stoned by Salisbury's keeper.

Continuing the seesaw affair, SU went back to work on the offensive side in the middle of the period, but the Captains remained vigilant. Thompson came through with an excellent series as the third-year star bottled up a run on the interior before adding a solid tackle at the top of the arc. Later, the Sea Gulls earned back-to-back corners, but Billhimer and Morales broke up the initial surge before Asuncion blocked a rip in the center of the circle on the second try.

After brushing aside the shot, the senior flashed incredible stick skills as she kept possession of the ball, spun past an attacker, and sent a feed to Delaney Norr, who cruised up the turf to set up another offensive rally in the 11th minute. With an opportunity to break the deadlock, Asuncion cut around a defender and whistled a one-timer from the edge of the arc, but it was kicked away by the keeper.

In the second stanza, Christopher Newport continued to poke at Salisbury's defensive unit. Sabbagh laced a long feed to Asuncion, who whipped another laser that was punted by the goalie. Shortly thereafter, the reigning All-American drew a corner, but Sabbagh's bolt was deflected on the interior.

Following the defensive stand, Salisbury looked for an answer on the other side. In the 26th minute, the Sea Gulls had an opportunity, but Morgan Arthur snatched a long pass that skipped away following an SU corner. Unfortunately, the hosts secured a second chance in the last minute of the first half. Although Asuncion disrupted an initial opportunity off another corner, Salisbury kept possession and converted to steal a 1-0 lead.

With a modest edge, the Sea Gulls nearly stretched their advantage early in the third quarter. However, Kerr was sensational on two straight corners. After kicking aside a dart on the first try, she made a diving play to wall off the right pipe on the next attempt. Later, Billhimer helped clean up on the back line to keep the deficit at one.

Looking to pull even, the Captains orchestrated a sustained surge late in the period. Kicking things off, Morales chipped the ball around a defender, burst to her right, and blistered a screamer that just bounced past the cage. Later, Pope connected with Maddison Steele on a 50-yard seed. Backing her way into the circle, the sophomore standout had Salisbury's defense on its heels but could not quite generate a threat.

Keeping the ball on the offensive end, Pope intercepted a clear attempt, while Emily Evans forced a turnover with sustained pressure along the right sideline, but the clock eventually ran out on the third quarter.

Searching for some breathing room, the Sea Gulls were awarded a penalty stroke early in the fourth stanza. Taking advantage of the situation, the hosts slipped a dart inside the left pipe to stretch their lead to two.

With time becoming a factor, Christopher Newport went back to work on the offensive end. Unfortunately, Salisbury held up against the growing assault. Asuncion had a blast spin past the left pipe before a second rocket was swatted by the goalie. Shortly thereafter, Morales raced up the left sideline and worked the ball over to Norr, but her subsequent shot was blocked on the right side of the circle.

Still battling, Sabbagh picked off a clear attempt on the right side of the field, while Billhimer had a tackle along the defensive 25, but the Captains simply could not find an opening as the Sea Gulls finished off the shutout.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 12-10 advantage in shots, while Salisbury led the way in penalty corners, 8-4.

---ISH---