VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- All-American Kelsey Winters opened up the 2022 campaign with a historic showcase while tying the single-game school record with 12 points as the 24th-ranked Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team rolled past Virginia Wesleyan, 20-2, during a non-conference test on Friday at Birdsong Field.
 
Against the Marlins, Winters was nearly unstoppable. Her 12 total points equaled the program record originally set by Meghan Harkey against Agnes Scott on April 3, 2010 and matched by Ashton Marshall against Ferrum on March 17, 2012. Meanwhile, her nine assists established a new career-high and fell just one short of the school record established by Harkey during the squad's win over Agnes Scott 12 years ago.
 
Making her accomplishment even more impressive, both her nine assists and 12 total points marked the most ever recorded by a Captain during a road game.
 
Along with Winters' historic performance, Zoe Dyer carved out a little history of her own. She added a game-high four strikes against the Marlins, including the 100th goal of her career. With that performance, she became just the 16th player in program history to reach that milestone.
 
Rounding out the top-scorers, Kendall Krause and Sloane McDonald added three points apiece. Overall, 11 Captains notched at least one point during the win.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport starts the year with a pristine 1-0 record, while Virginia Wesleyan falls to 1-1.
 
In the opening period, the Captains quickly set the tone with a relentless offensive attack. Less than a minute into the season, Winters kicked off the scoring after winning a one-on-one battle along the left side before lacing a low liner into the cage. Shortly thereafter, she served as the facilitator on a strike by Blake Hopkins, who cut through the defense while converting on the run for her first career tally.
 
Boasting an early advantage, Alexis Kasuda found her rhythm and quickly extended the lead. In the fourth minute, she capitalized on a screen by Hope Hunter and scooted around two defenders before capitalizing on the right side. Moments later, she added an assist after finding Dyer streaking through the Marlins for the game's fourth tally.
 
Still motoring along, Winters and McDonald teamed up on a pair of goals in less than 30 seconds. First, Winters slipped a feed over the cage to McDonald, who scored along the right post. Seconds later, Winters found McDonald again, who converted on a bouncer for a 6-0 edge.
 
While the offense was lighting up the scoreboard, the defense was equally effective. Following a sustained rally by the hosts, Hopkins pounced on a loose ball that hit the turf in a cluttered zone before Emma Jackson blazed up the right side on a successful clear. Shortly thereafter, Kasuda had a takeaway near midfield, while Madi Rozgonyi pieced together a fantastic ride while sticking to the hip of a Marlin before causing a turnover along the crease.
 
Later, with time winding down in the opening quarter, Dyer added the final punctuation mark. Storming through the defense on a run up the center of the field, the senior star snared a pass from Winters before dunking over the keeper to secure an 8-1 lead.
 
In the second stanza, the offense never slowed down. Chasing a roller after an initial shot was snuffed out, Kasuda generated an extra possession and quickly capitalized on her own hustle with her second goal of the game.
 
Just over a minute later, after Jackson controlled the ensuing draw, Winters bullied her way inside and backed down a defender. With little room to work, she eventually handed the ball to Eleanor Collins, who split three Marlins on the way to a 10-1 lead.
 
Meanwhile, on the other side of the field, Christopher Newport continued to blanket the turf. During a lengthy rally in the middle of the period, the Captains never surrendered an inch of room to the Marlins. Eventually, Rozgonyi and Joely Stevens double-teamed an attacker and simply badgered her around the field before forcing a shot-clock violation, which handed possession back to the attack.
 
After regaining control, the offense closed out the first half with another relentless assault. Winters scored on a free-position attempt before running a beautiful give-and-go with Dyer, which gave the Captains a 12-1 lead. Moments later, Syd Guidi barreled her way up the right side of the field for her first tally of the year before Winters polished off the opening half in style.
 
Showcasing her athleticism, Winters took possession behind the cage and curled around the right side of the crease. Pushing her way inside, she eventually slammed on the brakes, cut back, dipped under the shoulder of a defender, and scored along the pipe to snatch a 14-1 advantage.
 
After already securing a running clock in the first half with a double-digit lead, the Captains cruised through the final 30 minutes. In the third period, Krause kicked off the scoring with some help from McDonald before Winters set up back-to-back tallies by Kasuda and Hunter. Later, Kasuda flashed soft hands while securing a bouncing ball in the center of the zone before cutting past three defenders on the way to her second goal.
 
Holding an 18-1 lead, Maelyn Eversole joined the fun at the tail end of the third quarter. The freshman showed off her wheels while dodging three defenders on a lengthy journey through the offensive zone. Although a fourth Marlin eventually delivered a blow that disrupted her ensuing shot, she bounced back and earned a free-position attempt, which she quickly buried inside the pipe for her first collegiate goal.
 
Entering the final 15 minutes, Christopher Newport added a few more highlights on both ends of the field. First, on the defensive side, Taylor Schoolar slipped out of the cage and picked off a pass behind the zone to force a turnover and clamp down on an early rally by the hosts. Later, Lindsay Connell capped off the scoring after using a shovel shot to sling the ball around a defender, which helped close out the 20-2 victory.
 
Overall, Christopher Newport held a 32-4 edge in shots and a 25-15 lead in ground balls. Hunter led the squad with six rollers, while McDonald plucked four. Meanwhile, the Captains also controlled 15 of the game's 22 draws. Jackson led the way with six draw controls, while Collins added five.
 
Christopher Newport will be back in action on February 26 when the team hosts Moravian in a non-conference test at Jennings Family Stadium.
 
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