ASHLAND, Va. -- The fourth-ranked Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team will face its first road test of the year on Saturday at noon when the Captains head to Randolph-Macon for a showdown at Day Field.
Entering the weekend, both the Captains and Yellow Jackets sit at 1-0 after winning their debuts last Saturday.
In the opener against Roanoke, Christopher Newport kicked off the year with an emphatic 22-5 victory. During the game,
Dylan Rice established a new program record with eight goals, while he matched his own school standard with 10 total points. For that performance, the fifth-year senior was honored as the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week and secured a spot on the USILA National Team of the Week.
Along with Rice's work on the offensive end,
Alex Brendes and
Robby Adams contributed three goals apiece, while
Andrew Cook,
Jackson Deal, and
Drew Miller all added three helpers. Overall, 15 Captains contributed at least one point, and the squad's 21 total assists established a new single-game school record.
Meanwhile, on the other end of the field, the defense suffocated the Maroons during a 60-minute showcase. Christopher Newport forced 31 turnovers, which marked the second-most in program history. On an individual level,
Phoenix Hines led the way with five takeaways and was celebrated as the league's Defensive Player of the Week. He also joined Rice on the USILA National Team of the Week.
In addition to Hines, Rice and
Max Wayne also had four caused turnovers during the game. while
Burke Widhelm and
Ryan Young combined for 11 ground balls and five takeaways. The Captains also controlled possession while winning 24 of the game's 30 faceoffs, including 13 victories by
Zack Sands.
Randolph-Macon also opened the year with a victory after topping Mary Washington, 7-5, on Saturday in Fredericksburg. Max Minder led the team with three points, including a pair of assists, while Sam Averna and Duncan O'Brien added two goals apiece. Meanwhile, Gage Turner earned the victory after chipping in with 16 saves.
In 13 previous meetings between the two programs, Christopher Newport holds a 7-6 edge in the series. The Captains won last year's match-up, 24-8, in Ashland. Rice led the way with seven points, including five goals, while
Brady Altobello handed out four assists. On the other side, Jack Smith had a hat-trick for the Yellow Jackets.
Following Saturday's tilt, Christopher Newport will return to action on February 26 for a 1 p.m. game at Hampden-Sydney.
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