NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Kendall Krause registered her 100th career ground ball, while Madi Rozgonyi headlined a smothering defensive showcase as the Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team posted its third straight victory with a 19-6 triumph over Meredith on a beautiful Wednesday evening at Jennings Family Stadium.

Against the Avenging Angels, Krause became just the 19th Captain to reach 100 career ground balls. She also starred on the offensive end with five points, including four goals. Meanwhile, Syd Guidi also landed six strikes and was one of five players with multi-goal efforts during the game.

On the defensive side, Rozgonyi blanketed the opposition while forcing seven turnovers. That marked the third-highest total in program history and the most by a freshman. It also bumped her season total to 30, which moved her past former legend Victoria Betterly for the most takeaways by a first-year competitor in school history. Betterly had 27 during the 2019 campaign.

Along with Rozgonyi, Joely Stevens and Emma Jackson also had three caused turnovers apiece, while Blake Hopkins and Riley Rafterry-Lee had two each. As a team, Christopher Newport eventually finished with 22 takeaways, marking the third-highest total in program history and the most since the Captains notched 26 at Averett on March 17, 2007.

In addition to her work on the defensive end, Jackson also came down with seven draw controls. That moved her over 100 for her career and gave her 86 this year, which vaulted her to third on the program's all-time single-season charts.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 9-7 on the season. The setback drops Meredith to 12-5.

Facing a team that entered the game ranked 16th in the nation in scoring offense, the Captains set the tone early on the defensive side of the ball. During the opening moments of the game, Lizzie Burgoyne brushed aside a free-position attempt, while Krause and Jackson both caused turnovers to stifle three early rallies.

Later, in the seventh minute, Rozgonyi stayed on the hip of an attacker and jostled the ball free for her first takeaway of the game before Krause jumped on the roller for her 100th career ground ball.

After gaining possession, Zoe Dyer put the Captains on the board as the senior circled the left pipe before firing back across her body for the squad's first tally. Moments later, Kelsey Winters set a screen that allowed Guidi to slip free for her first dart, while Sloane McDonald burned a blast through the goalie's five-hole on an eight-meter attempt to snatch a 3-1 lead.

Although the visitors closed the gap just before the end of the period, Rozgonyi stepped up again on the defensive side. On two late Meredith possessions, she knocked away a pass towards the center of the zone before stripping an attacker with a trail-check in the waning moments to keep the 3-2 edge.

In the second stanza, Christopher Newport's attack quickly found its rhythm. Guidi burst through a double-team on the way to her second goal before Krause added back-to-back tallies, including a gorgeous give-and-go with Dyer. Moments later, McDonald pushed the lead to 7-2 after bouncing home her second tally.

Meanwhile, the defense never lost its footing. With 12 minutes left in the period, Stevens knocked away a pass along the crease before Maddie Rusinko grabbed the loose ball. Shortly thereafter, Rusinko bottled up a dangerous rally in the center of the zone before Stevens snatched the roller and cleared the field.

Looking to add a little more breathing room, Winters tucked a shot into the top left corner of the cage on a free-position attempt. Guidi also continued her evening with a magical run that saw her drop a defender with a cut at the top of the zone before bursting through two more Angels on the way to her third strike, which led to a Meredith timeout.

Following the break, Dyer came back with a rope off a feed from Winters, while Hopkins painted the left pipe with a bouncer on a free-position attempt, which gave the hosts an 11-5 lead entering halftime.

In the third quarter, Guidi landed a pair of early blows, including one that saw her put two defenders on skates with cuts to her left and right on the way to her fifth goal. Shortly thereafter, Rafterry-Lee flashed her offensive skills. The senior captain stationed herself at the top of the zone after the defense gave her a little room to work. After snaring a pass from McDonald, she stepped inside and unloaded a screamer into the bottom left corner of the cage for her first career tally.

Looking to push their lead to double-digits, the Captains gained a running clock with four minutes left in the quarter. Alexis Kasuda fired a low liner off an eight-meter attempt, while Krause cut around a defender on the left side of the field before depositing her third goal, which handed the squad a 16-6 edge.

While the offense continued to pick apart the Meredith defense, Rozgonyi remained vigilant on the other end of the field. In the third stanza, she gobbled up a feed at the top of the zone after the Avenging Angels attempted a fancy flip pass in her area. Later, she swarmed a midfielder along the right sideline before dislodging the ball again with another trail-check.

Then, in the final quarter, the freshman polished off her historic evening. Early in the period, Rozgonyi absolutely stoned an attacker who tried to roll past her on the left side of the field. Shortly thereafter, she clamped down on a clear attempt and stole an errant pass before handing the ball back to the attack.

With little left to prove, Christopher Newport tossed three late goals on the board to ice the win. First, Guidi found an open lane on the right side of the field before hammering home her sixth strike. Later, Kasuda assisted on a dart by Krause before adding a fitting punctuation mark to the game.

With less than a minute left, Kasuda flashed her wheels on a 40-yard sprint up the field. Unable to slow down the senior speedster, two defenders crashed into each other while attempting to throw up a roadblock. Eventually, she cruised inside and knocked home the final nail to seal the 19-6 win.

Overall, Christopher Newport out-shot Meredith, 34-15, and held a 27-15 edge in ground balls. Rozgonyi came through with six rollers for the Captains, while Jackson and Burgoyne had three apiece. Meanwhile, the two squads split the game's 28 draws.

Burgoyne earned the win while making four saves in the crease. Taylor Schoolar also added a sensational stop on an eight-meter missile late in the fourth quarter.

Christopher Newport will return to action on April 30 when the Captains wrap up the regular season with a noon battle at No. 3 Salisbury.

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