NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Scoring six times in the second half, including four tallies in the fourth quarter, the 16th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team quickly flipped a back-and-forth battle into a comfortable 7-0 victory over Haverford on a humid Saturday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.

Against the Fords, Emily Evans came through with her first collegiate multi-goal effort, including the opening strike in the 19th minute of action. Additionally, Emma Logue, Delaney Norr, and Maddison Steele all had three points apiece, while Marcella Sabbagh and Vivian Pope rounded out the goal-scorers.

Sabbagh's strike was especially historic as the senior star converted her record-setting fifth career penalty stroke in the 54th minute. That moved her into sole possession of first-place on the program's all-time charts, passing former legends Sarah Wister and Alexa Weaver, who converted four strokes apiece during their standout careers.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the field, the Captains smothered the competition while registering their third shutout of the season. The squad limited the Fords to only four shots, including one on-target attempt, which Gabi Gray handled to complete her sixth career shutout.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improves to 3-1 on the season, while the setback drops Haverford to 2-2.

In the opening period, the Captains kept pressure on Haverford's back line, but the opposition stood up against the relentless assault. Asuncion had two early rips turned away by the keeper, while Brooke Billhimer had a blast brushed aside following a penalty corner in the 13th minute.

Later, the hosts were silenced during one of the more remarkable runs in recent memory. With less than two minutes remaining in the opening period, Norr slipped through and peppered a shot that just caught the left pipe. Incredibly, the ball ricocheted right out to Asuncion who was stationed in the center of the circle, but her follow-up attempt clanked off the crossbar to keep the game scoreless entering the second quarter.

After being muted by metal in the waning moments of the first period, Christopher Newport opened the scoring in the 19th minute. On the play, Alexis Morales laced a pass into the circle to Lainey Pratzner. After the sophomore settled the ball, she punched a feed to Evans, who chipped it over the keeper along the left post to snatch a 1-0 lead.

Looking to respond, Haverford earned a corner after putting together a dangerous rally with seven minutes left in the first half. Standing tall, Asuncion burst out of the cage, avoided a screen, and applied pressure at the top of the arc. Although the visitors were able to uncork a shot, Gray knocked down the high-rising rocket before Pope escorted the ball up the right sideline to flip possession and keep the Fords scoreless entering halftime.

Following the break, the visitors earned another corner early in the third quarter, but the Captains continued to shine on the defensive end. Once again, Asuncion flew out of the cage and prevented an early shot before tipping a pass out of the circle. Although the Fords kept possession and drove forward, Billhimer closed out the surge and forced an off-target attempt along the right post.

After locking down Haverford's early advances, Christopher Newport broke through on the other end. In the 38th minute, Steele pushed forward and blasted a shot that was deflected by a defender. Sticking with the play, she regained possession and slipped a roller inside to Logue, who pulled it around the keeper and pumped it into the cage for a 2-0 edge.

Less than three minutes later, the Captains came back for more. Katie Abendschoen picked the pockets of a Haverford defender and sliced a pass inside the circle to Steele. With a quick touch, the second-year sensation scooted past a defender and rifled a shot inside the left post to take a 3-0 lead entering the final stanza.

After snatching the momentum in the third quarter, Christopher Newport put the game on ice with an offensive eruption in the fourth. Early in the period, Morales unloaded a screamer that kicked off the goalie. Keeping the play alive, Norr collected the rebound and popped a shot into the cage from the right side of the field, which stretched the lead to 4-0.

In the 54th minute, Morales was at the center of the action again. This time, she put her wheels on full display following an errant pass by the Fords. Despite a 20-yard head start by a Haverford defender, the senior made up ground at breakneck speed, grabbed the ball, and generated a breakaway all on her own. Although she was eventually tackled by the keeper, her hustle earned the squad a penalty stroke.

Taking the shot, Sabbagh stepped in and painted the right pipe with a rocket for a 5-0 edge.

With little left to prove, Christopher Newport put the finishing touches on the contest with two goals in the final 90 seconds of regulation. First, the hosts earned a corner and immediately capitalized. Following a perfect insertion by Logue, Pope ripped a laser through the defense for her first tally of the year.

Moments later, Sabbagh threaded a pass up the field that split half a dozen defenders and jump-started a 2-on-1 breakaway. With numbers, Norr stormed in from the right side and drew the attention of the keeper before pushing a pass over to Evans, who capped off the contest with a deflection to lock up the lopsided victory.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 42-4 advantage in shots and a 9-3 edge in corners.

The Captains will return to action on Sunday when the squad continues its homestand with an 11 a.m. tilt against Concordia (Wisc.).

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