NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Chloe Thompson set up the game's opening goal and registered her first career defensive save, but the 18th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team dropped a hard-fought 2-1 decision to Washington & Lee on a sweltering Sunday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.

Against the Generals, Thompson became just the fifth Captain in the past decade to record an assist and defensive save in the same game. She added her name to an exclusive group featuring current teammate Marcella Sabbagh as well as former All-American Brittan Muir and longtime standouts Shelby Judkins and Jordan Snider.

Along with Thompson, Katie Abendschoen connected on her second goal of the season, while Lily Kerr and Gabi Gray combined for five saves between the pipes.

With the setback, Christopher Newport falls to 4-3 on the season, while Washington & Lee improves to 5-1.

At the outset, the two squads traded goals in the first quarter. Less than nine minutes into regulation, Christopher Newport struck first. After Delaney Norr whipped a shot off the foot of a defender, the Captains were awarded a corner and quickly capitalized. Off an insert by Thompson, Abendschoen secured the feed at the top of the arc and whistled a one-timer that deflected off the stick of a defender and buried itself in the back of the cage.

Unfortunately, less than two minutes after the hosts opened the scoring, Washington & Lee answered with a two-on-one breakaway.

Following the early goals, both squads settled in for a defensive struggle. At the end of the opening period, Thompson cleaned up a deep run by the visitors with an interception along the 25, while Abby Asuncion thwarted a rally along the left sideline. Then, in the second quarter, Sabbagh helped brush aside an early corner by the Generals after deflecting a rip on the interior.

Although Washington & Lee continued to pressure the Captains, Christopher Newport held up throughout the second period. Brooke Billhimer handled a tough bouncer following a push by the visitors in the 25th minute before Joelie Erwin applied pressure along the left sideline and forced an errant pass, which ended another surge.

With time winding down in the first half, Sabbagh snatched a W&L pass at midfield before Morgan Arthur made a tremendous interception along the sideline to prevent a last-second push by the Generals.

Still knotted at one at the start of the third quarter, Christopher Newport secured three corners in the first five minutes of the stanza. Sadly, Asuncion had an on-target blast turned away by a defensive save, while Alexis Morales had a bullet blocked by a defender. Asuncion and Norr also had attempts trickle wide as Washington & Lee survived the early scare.

Following the quick push by the Captains, the Generals fired back on the other end. Hanging tough, Thompson clamped down on another rally up the middle of the field before Billhimer deflected a centering pass along the right pipe. Later, Sabbagh knocked down a laser along the arc before the squad pieced together its finest defensive stand of the game.

In the 41st minute, Washington & Lee continued to push forward. On an initial surge, Gray made a key kick save to stifle the first rally. Seconds later, the Generals returned to the zone and had a deflection that slipped behind the defense and nearly crossed the end line. However, Thompson scooted over and snatched the roller before escorting it out of harm's way.

Later, after Abendschoen had a shot blocked on the offensive end, the visitors had one final chance to break through in the quarter. In the waning moments of the third period, the Generals had numbers on their side during a rush up the field. Unfazed by the pressure, Billhimer stayed deep and picked off a pass at the last second to prevent a breakaway opportunity from developing.

With both teams searching for a go-ahead goal entering the fourth quarter, Washington & Lee broke the deadlock in the 51st minute. After grabbing the lead, the Generals refused to let the Captains back into the game.

Keeping the pressure on Christopher Newport's defense, the visitors controlled the tempo over the final 10 minutes. Refusing to go down quietly, Billhimer had another solid run with a tackle in the 56th minute before snuffing out a deep threat just a few moments later. Meanwhile, Gray swallowed another on-target shot by the Generals before Sabbagh cleared the rebound out of the circle.

Unfortunately, the hosts could not quite sustain an offensive threat during the final few minutes as Washington & Lee closed out the victory.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 13-10 advantage in shots and a 12-3 lead in corners.

The Captains will return to action on Wednesday when the squad travels to Washington, D.C. for a 5:30 p.m. showdown with Catholic.

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