WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Piecing together a record-setting performance for the fourth-ranked Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team, freshman Warner Cabaniss helped the Captains dominate possession while securing 17 ground balls as the squad took down Catholic, 20-10, during a non-conference showdown on Saturday afternoon at Carlini Field.
 
Against the Cardinals, Cabaniss was a machine on faceoffs. The first-year sensation won 19 of his 25 battles, including seven in the first quarter as the visitors raced out to an early advantage. Meanwhile, he also hauled in 17 ground balls, which shattered the previous mark of 14 set by Ryan Mills at Mary Washington on March 29, 2017. It also equaled the fifth-highest total by any player in the nation this season.
 
Aided by Cabaniss' efforts, Christopher Newport eventually won 24 faceoffs during the game, which tied the fourth-highest single-game total in school history.
 
With Cabaniss controlling possession, Christopher Newport's attack went to work on the offensive side of the ball. Dylan Rice dropped in six points, including five goals, while Drew Miller and Andrew Cook notched four tallies apiece. Coby Auslander also handed out five assists to help pace the potent assault.
 
Meanwhile, on the back end, Zac Hanway contributed 13 saves between the pipes to keep the high-powered Catholic offense in-check. That marked his first double-digit effort of the season and equaled his highest total since notching 15 stops against Salisbury on April 14, 2021.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 5-0 on the season, while the setback drops Catholic to 3-2.

After battling to a 3-3 deadlock early in the first quarter, the Captains used their quick-strike capabilities to snatch a lead at the tail end of the period. Following a defensive stand that saw David Gonzalez bully an attackman into a turnover, Christopher Newport's offense went to work.

Kicking off the surge, Auslander found Alex Brendes, who polished off a quick clear with a go-ahead dagger. Shortly thereafter, Rice followed with a man-up missile before Cabaniss capped off the period with a fitting punctuation mark. After dominating the opposition throughout the stanza, he won another faceoff with six seconds left before quickly finding Rice, who slammed home his second straight tally to steal a 6-3 edge.

Continuing to torment the opposition in the second period, Brady Altobello opened the frame with an early goal before Phoenix Hines found Miller on a clear, which resulted in the squad's eighth strike during an unsettled situation. Moments later, Rice returned with his third dart before Will Stockhausen pounded home another blast to secure a 10-4 lead midway through the quarter.

Although Catholic battled back and responded with two straight tallies just before halftime,  Christopher Newport regained the momentum following the break. Just three days after outscoring Grove City, 9-0, during the third quarter on Wednesday, the Captains nearly matched that performance on Saturday. Putting together a ferocious assault, the visitors orchestrated a 7-0 run that quickly put the game out of reach.

Altobello opened the attack with a rocket off a feed from Auslander. Shortly thereafter, Rice continued the surge with his fourth goal before Miller added back-to-back bullets during an electric two-minute stretch, which pushed the edge to 14-6.

Following two more saves by Hanway, which helped stymie Catholic's response, Cook came back with his first two goals, while Jackson Deal deposited another to snatch a 17-6 lead entering the final stanza.

Holding a double-digit advantage, Christopher Newport cruised to the lopsided victory. Although Catholic managed to cut into its deficit with three goals early in the fourth quarter, Cook retaliated with two straight lasers. Later, after the hosts were hit with a penalty, Logan Shassian ended the festivities with a clean strike from the left side of the field to lock up the 20-10 win.

Overall, the Captains held a 46-35 lead in ground balls while winning 24 of the game's 33 total faceoffs. Meanwhile, the squad also out-shot the opposition, 54-37, and converted on two of its three extra-man opportunities.

Christopher Newport will return to action on Wednesday when the team hosts Ursinus at 4 p.m.

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