LANCASTER, Pa. -- Despite several acrobatic saves by Gabi Gray and a solid defensive effort by the entire squad, the 16th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team could not overcome an early deficit as the Captains dropped a hard-fought 2-0 decision to Franklin & Marshall on Sunday morning at Tylus Field.

During the battle, Gray was credited with four saves, but three of the stops came on breakaway opportunities by the Diplomats, including a 3-on-1 rush late in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Brooke Billhimer and Marcella Sabbagh were especially effective on the back line to help bottle up a handful of deep rallies by the hosts.

Unfortunately, the Captains were unable to capitalize on the squad's defensive efforts. Although Christopher Newport held a 15-12 lead in shots and a 12-3 advantage in corners during the game, Franklin & Marshall was able to overcome the statistical shortcomings to secure the win.

With the setback, the Captains fall to 1-1 on the season, while the Diplomats improve to 2-0.

Although Christopher Newport sustained possession early in the opening period, Franklin & Marshall broke through first on a quick rally in the seventh minute. Looking to respond, Delaney Norr opened the retaliation with an interception and scooted into the circle, but the Diplomats slammed the door on the run just before a shot could be taken.

Moments later, Alexis Morales and Abby Asuncion swiped the ball from a defender before Maddison Steele chipped it off another Diplomat to earn a corner, but the ensuing attack was broken up by the F&M back line. Later, Brie Mallozzi won control from a midfielder to keep the pressure on, but a rip by Steele just drifted past the right pipe at the end of the opening quarter.

In the second period, the hosts set the tempo early with several dangerous rallies, but Christopher Newport stepped up on the back end. First, Gray made a spectacular play on a breakaway. During a one-on-one situation, the senior came storming out of the cage and hit the turf with a sliding save to prevent a quick strike. Then, Billhimer knocked down a threatening bouncer in the 18th minute before Sabbagh stoned another attempt before it leaked towards the goal.

Following the defensive stand early in the stanza, the Captains went to work on the offensive end later in the period. The squad secured a corner in the 26th minute, but Asuncion's blast from the top of the circle just missed connecting with a stick along the right post. Later, in the final minute, Christopher Newport pieced together its finest surge of the first half.

On an initial run, Asuncion fed a pass inside to Steele, who deflected it over to Mallozzi. Stationed along the left post, the freshman redirected the ball, but it just skipped past the post. Refusing to back down, Morales stormed in and kept possession before splitting a pair of defenders with a gorgeous cut that led to a corner.

With only seconds left on the clock, Sabbagh inserted the ball to Asuncion, but the Diplomats blocked a pair of shots. Although the rapid-fire assault led to a second corner after time expired, Steele's ensuing backhand just cleared the crossbar as the Captains entered halftime nursing a one-goal deficit.

Following the break, Franklin & Marshall quickly extended its edge just three minutes into the third quarter. Staring at a 2-0 hole, the Captains attempted a response. Mallozzi fired a laser that flew past the left pipe. Later, after earning a corner, Katie Abendschoen had a turnaround attempt stoned by the keeper, while Morgan Arthur's follow-up shot was deflected by a defender.

After the offensive rally, Christopher Newport's back line had to stand up to another threat by the hosts. Storming down the field with numbers, the Diplomats had an advantage, but Gray slipped out of the cage and punted an initial shot. Although F&M kept possession, Billhimer hit the turf to disrupt the play, while Sabbagh stayed deep on the back line and knocked away a subsequent shot to close out the stand.

Looking for an answer, the Captains did solid work in the middle of the field but could not quite generate a scoring opportunity. Morales knocked down an aerial and stole possession from another midfielder before Asuncion put on a one-person show. In the 43rd minute, the senior All-American grabbed control from a midfielder and spun her way through half a dozen Diplomats during a surge into the circle. Unfortunately, the interior of the F&M defense bottled up the play to prevent an attempt at the last moment.

With time winding down in the third, the two teams traded rallies. First, Billhimer snatched the ball near midfield and threaded a pass to Emily Evans, who smashed a centering feed that helped draw a corner. Sadly, after the Diplomats held strong on the defensive end, they orchestrated a counterstrike. Flying the other way, the hosts managed another breakaway, but Gray came out of the cage again and disrupted the run long enough for Billhimer to catch up and knock the ball out of the circle.

Entering the final stanza, Franklin & Marshall continued to apply pressure early in the fourth quarter. In the 46th minute, the hosts secured a corner, but Asuncion helped prevent an early blast from the top of the arc before Sabbagh slapped the ball away on the inside of the zone.

Later in the period, Christopher Newport began earning corners at a breakneck pace. In the 53rd minute, Asuncion drew the first opportunity, which resulted in a rocket by Emma Logue. Although the defense held up against the blast, the Captains quickly secured three more corners in just over 60 seconds of action. Unfortunately, a pair of shots by Asuncion were set aside by Franklin & Marshall before a penalty stroke by Sabbagh was swallowed by the keeper.

Still looking to break through, Steele pushed her way through the defense along the end line to pick up the visitors' fifth corner of the period before Billhimer snatched a sixth after pumping an attempt off the foot of a defender. Sadly, the Captains came away empty-handed after each opportunity before Franklin & Marshall cleared the zone.

Shortly after stopping Christopher Newport's sixth corner, the Diplomats stormed the other way. The hosts managed a 3-on-1 breakaway with only Gray standing between the opposition and the cage. Unfazed by the situation, the senior burst up the field and confronted the lead attacker. Eventually, she made a diving play to prevent the goal before Sabbagh raced back and knocked away the rebound before any damage could be done.

Unfortunately, the Captains could never muster a response. Franklin & Marshall kept possession over the final few minutes and ran out the clock to secure the 2-0 victory.

The Captains will return to action on Tuesday when the squad travels to Virginia Wesleyan for a 4 p.m. test.

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