NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Syd Guidi posted a career-high seven goals while leading the Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team to an exciting 17-16 victory over St. Mary's (Md.) during a back-and-forth thrill-ride on Tuesday evening at Jennings Family Stadium.
 
Leading the offensive assault, Guidi was terrific throughout the contest. The second-year star connected on a first-half hat-trick before adding four more tallies in the second half, including the squad's final dagger in the fourth quarter. Overall, her seven goals equaled the fifth-highest total by a Captain in program history.
 
Adding more luster to her showcase on Tuesday, Guidi also came through with seven draw controls. With that performance, she became just the second Captain in school history to register at least seven goals and seven draws in a single game. Former All-American Sarah Culver was the only other player to accomplish that feat after doing it twice during her decorated career from 2016-19.
 
Along with Guidi, Alexis Kasuda had three goals and three assists, while Zoe Dyer notched five points, including four strikes. On the other end of the field, Taylor Schoolar picked up the win while making 10 saves, including a crucial stop in the waning moments of regulation to stymie St. Mary's final rally.
 
With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 6-6 on the season. The setback drops St. Mary's to 6-4.
 
In the early going, Dyer had the hot hand and registered the game's first two tallies, including a gorgeous strike off a feed from Kelsey Winters that saw her fire a rocket over the head of a defender along the interior. Later, after Kasuda joined the fun with her first dart, Dyer came back and wiggled through heavy traffic before converting her third tally while surrounded by four defenders.
 
Although the visitors continued to keep the game close with three early goals of their own, Guidi kicked off her evening with an impressive run late in the first quarter. Showcasing some fancy footwork, she burned a defender with a cut to her right on the way to her first goal before cruising past another Seahawk with a roll to her left, which resulted in her second strike.
 
Moments later, with time winding down in the opening quarter, Christopher Newport orchestrated a last-minute masterpiece. Looking to beat the clock and make something happen, Dyer found herself surrounded by two defenders along the left side of the cage. With a sea of bodies in the middle of the zone, she simply floated a rainbow into the crowd. After the ball crashed down on the turf, it skipped perfectly to Maggie Lockard, who quickly corralled the feed, burst to her left, and unleashed a bouncer through the keeper for her first collegiate goal.
 
Staring at a 7-4 deficit after the first 15 minutes, St. Mary's responded with two straight strikes early in the second stanza to pull back within one. After Dyer answered with her fourth dagger, the defense helped set up the squad's ninth goal.
 
Standing tall against a lengthy rally by the Seahawks, Christopher Newport refused to give the visitors an inch. Eventually, Riley Rafterry-Lee and Maddie Rusinko cut off an angle and forced an errant pass, which flipped possession. Quickly generating a fast break, Kasuda burned up the left sideline and drew the attention of the defense. With several Seahawks leaking towards the left, Sloane McDonald slipped in the back side, snatched a pass, and dunked along the right pipe.
 
Continuing the seesaw affair, St. Mary's fired back with two more goals before Christopher Newport stepped up on the defensive end again. During another long surge by the visitors, Rafterry-Lee and Emma Jackson double-teamed a run up the right side to prevent an initial shot before Madi Rozgonyi bullied an attacker near the left post to thwart another attempt. Moments later, Rusinko stole a pass and helped clear the zone.
 
Meanwhile, on the offensive side, Guidi returned with her third tally after bouncing off a stick-check before blasting on the run. Shortly thereafter, Kasuda found McDonald for another dart on the doorstep in the final minute of the first half.
 
Unfortunately, St. Mary's refused to go down quietly. The Seahawks orchestrated a late push, including a goal as time expired, to knot the game at 11 entering the second half.
 
Still carrying some momentum in the third quarter, the visitors garnered their first lead less than a minute into the new stanza. Unfazed by the deficit, Christopher Newport shot back.
 
Unloading on the opposition, Guidi landed three straight goals, including a free-position rocket. Later, Kasuda continued the rally by burying a laser in the top right corner of the cage, which handed the hosts a 15-12 lead with two minutes left in the third period.
 
Although the Seahawks finally broke the streak with their 13th goal, the Captains had an immediate answer. On the ensuing draw, Jackson shrugged off a tough hit along the sideline to secure possession. After the restart, Kasuda did the rest as the senior ran past five different defenders during a 25-yard sprint before painting the left pipe with her third missile of the game.
 
Entering the final stanza, Guidi punctuated her evening with a low liner off a free-position attempt in the 49th minute. Holding a 17-13 advantage, Christopher Newport stood tall against St. Mary's comeback bid.
 
Although the visitors chipped away at their deficit, the Captains made them work for every goal. Meanwhile, after St. Mary's inched within two, Stevens closed down the next rally with a tremendous performance. The fifth-year senior blanketed an attacker with relentless pressure on the right side of the zone before forcing a turnover and kick-starting a clear, which cut crucial time off the clock.
 
After St. Mary's pulled within one with two minutes left, the Seahawks regained possession and had an opportunity to even the score, but Schoolar went low and stoned the final blast with 80 seconds left in regulation. Still needing to clear the ball, Jackson wiggled through a double-team before flipping to Stevens, who sent a feed to Lockard at midfield.
 
After working the ball into the offensive zone, Kasuda chopped nearly 30 seconds off the clock by herself while dodging a host of defenders who were frantically trying to dislodge the ball. Later, Lindsay Connell eliminated more time while tormenting a Seahawk on the right side of the field before McDonald circled around the crease and cut the final 10 ticks off the board to lock up the win.
 
Overall, St. Mary's (Md.) held a 39-28 advantage in shots and a 21-14 edge in draws. Meanwhile, Christopher Newport led the way in ground balls, 17-16. Stevens, Rusinko, and Schoolar all grabbed three rollers apiece. Jackson also had a pair to go along with six draws and two caused turnovers.
 
Christopher Newport will return to action on Friday when the team kicks off a Midwest trip with a 6 p.m. game at Chicago.
 
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