FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Continuing her historic run, freshman Caroline Hughlett posted a career-high five points, while Abby Asuncion added two goals of her own as the fourth-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team claimed the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference regular season championship with a 4-2 victory over Mary Washington during a league bout on Saturday afternoon at the Battleground Turf Field.

Against the Eagles, Hughlett landed CNU's first two strikes, marking her second straight multi-goal effort. Coupled with her performance at Centre last Sunday, she became just the fourth freshman in program history to notch at least two goals in back-to-back contests, joining Asuncion and Emily Evans as well as former legend Anne Gehring.

Aided by her work on Saturday, Hughlett now has 26 points this season. That stands as the third-most by a first-year competitor in program history. Gehring set the freshman scoring record with 29 points in 2005 before Asuncion matched it in 2019.

Making her own mark on the history books against the Eagles, Asuncion added CNU's final two tallies. Her first strike was the 50th of her career, making her just the 16th player in the 33-year history of the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference to reach that benchmark. In that group, she joined a litany of Hall of Famers from Salisbury, York, Wesley, and Mary Washington, including former Eagle legend and longtime CNU assistant coach Jessica Morris Morelos.

Aided by Saturday's offensive standouts, Christopher Newport registered its 10th straight game with at least three goals. That stands as the longest run in program history, topping the nine-game streak from September 11 - October 17, 2021. It also marks the longest active stretch in the NCAA.

With the victory, CNU wrapped up its fifth regular season league championship in program history while improving to 16-0 on the season. The Captains will enter the playoffs as the conference's top seed and host the championship bout on November 4 at Jennings Family Stadium.

Meanwhile, the setback dropped Mary Washington to 10-8 on the season. The Eagles will travel to No. 6 Salisbury for the semifinals of the league tournament on Wednesday.

Controlling possession, the Captains kept the ball planted on the offensive end of the field in the early going. Courtney Hughlett blanketed the turf, ripping a roller away from an Eagle after she crossed midfield before grabbing another pass along the attacking 25. Moments later, Alexis Morales had a gorgeous tackle near the right sideline to quiet another clear attempt by the hosts.

Keeping control, Maddison Steele dipped low for an interception before pumping the ball into the circle. After Delaney Norr settled the bouncer before it slipped into the hands of a defender, Caroline Hughlett collected the ball and did the rest herself. Pulling to her left, she got the keeper on the turf before slicing a shot just inside the post for the game's opening tally.

Looking to retaliate, Mary Washington struggled to find an opening. Morales broke up back-to-back rallies in the right corner, while Ellie Nuckols stole a feed along the left sideline. Later, the hosts secured a corner, but Asuncion prevented a shot from the top of the arc before Chloe Thompson swiped possession along the right post to kill off the surge.

Then, in the waning moments of the opening period, Mary Washington wiggled free on a 3-on-2 rush, but Brooke Billhimer marked the ball and stayed with a streaker up the left sideline before ending the threat in the corner.

In the second stanza, the visitors continued to push back against UMW's advances. Kendall Gibson had an interception along the right sideline before Katie Abendschoen plucked a pass near midfield. Trying to find a hole in the Captains' blockade, the Eagles attempted to surge up the left boundary, but Lainey Pratzner stamped out that run as well.

Unfortunately, after a long ball slipped free down the field, Mary Washington generated a breakaway that resulted in a penalty stroke, which the hosts converted to even the score at one in the 20th minute.

Brushing aside the momentary stumble, Christopher Newport went right back to work on the offensive end. Nuckols and Steele prevented clears on the left side of the field before the Captains unloaded on the interior. Asuncion spun her way inside and had a shot turned away on the doorstep before Morales collected the rebound and launched a long-range missile that was batted out of the sky. Shortly thereafter, Norr had a rip kicked away along the right post.

With pressure mounting on Mary Washington's back line, the visitors finally broke through again in the 25th minute. After a failed corner, Pratzner elevated along the 25 and came through with a leaping interception to pick off an aerial. From distance, she blistered a screamer through a crowd of defenders. On the other end, Caroline Hughlett cut behind the back line, secured the feed, and rifled a one-timer from the right edge of the circle to regain a 2-1 advantage.

Once again, the Eagles attempted to land a counterpunch, but Morales jarred the ball loose on a lengthy rush up the right sideline, while Billhimer snatched a long hit near the top of the arc to thwart a potential two-on-one rush in the final minute of the first half.

After the break, CNU tried to stretch its one-goal lead. Abendschoen generated a great look in the early going after picking off a roller near midfield before spinning a pass into the right corner. Steele eventually handled the ball and fired a seed to the left post, but it was disrupted by the back line. Shortly thereafter, Billhimer also added an interception at midfield and spun it back up the turf, but a blast by Asuncion caught the pipe.

Following the quick rush by the Captains, Mary Washington tried to counter. On a deep rally along the right side of the circle, Thompson drove an attacker into the ground and punched a dangerous ball out of the zone. Still pushing forward, the hosts generated two straight corners in the 39th minute.

Hanging tough on the back end, Nuckols disrupted the initial attempt with pressure at the top of the arc before Billhimer deflected a shot on the interior. On the second try, Billhimer stayed deep and blocked a push on the inside before Morales cleared the threat.

Continuing the defensive stand later in the period, Morales slowed down a 3-on-1 rally before Lily Kerr kicked away a pair of on-target tracers. After the hosts picked up their third corner of the frame, Asuncion flew out of the cage and bottled up the play at the top of the zone to prevent any damage.

Following her work on the defensive end, Asuncion chipped in on the other side. After Norr and Lindsey Loar worked the ball up the left sideline, Caroline Hughlett took a feed in the center of the circle. Surrounded by four defenders and the goalie, she spun to her left and whistled one towards the right post.

Positioned behind the keeper, Asuncion deflected the rope for her 50th career goal.

Entering the final period with a 3-1 lead, Christopher Newport polished off the victory with solid work on both ends of the field. First, on the defensive side, Asuncion and Morales put a lid on another UMW corner after swiping possession before a shot could be taken. Then, on a breakaway, Kerr came scurrying out of the cage and punted a long ball away from two attackers who broke through CNU's back line.

Following the scare, the Captains padded their lead in the 53rd minute. Trying to clear the defensive end, Mary Washington lofted an aerial up the field. Flashing her wheels, Courtney Hughlett read the play perfectly and burst in front of a midfielder to pick off the floater near the right sideline.

With possession, she marched forward and dished a dime over to Asuncion. With one defender to beat, the fifth-year phenom cut inside, stopped on a dime, and launched a laser inside the left post for the squad's final goal.

Although Mary Washington responded just 37 seconds later, Christopher Newport never let the hosts pull any closer. Shortly after the goal, Avi McWhorter was relentless along the right sideline, forcing a pair of errant passes that were gobbled up by Pratzner and Caroline Hughlett. Later, Thompson plucked one off the stick of an attacker at the 25 before lofting it back up the field.

Still searching for a late strike, an Eagle subbed into the game and broke free on a run up the left sideline, but Thompson and Billhimer swarmed an attacker in the right corner to prevent a pass from connecting. Later, Abendschoen won a one-on-one duel in the left corner, while Joelie Erwin and Courtney Hughlett helped slow down a last-minute push along the left boundary to complete the two-goal victory.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 19-6 advantage in shots and a 9-5 edge in corners.

With the victory, CNU completed just the second undefeated regular season in program history. Along with the current Captains, only the 2013 squad entered the playoffs with an unblemished record while making a run to the NCAA Final Four.

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