FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Piecing together one of the most well-rounded performances of the season, the 7th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team coupled a stifling performance on the defensive end with another well-balanced offensive showcase to upend Rhodes, 6-0, during a neutral-site tilt on a breezy Sunday afternoon at Mary Washington's Battleground Turf Field.

Against the Lynx, the Captains did not surrender a shot, marking just the 13th time in program history the squad held an opponent without a single attempt. Making the accomplishment even more impressive, Rhodes entered the contest ranked 27th in the nation in scoring offense.

Meanwhile, on the offensive end, Maddison Steele landed the game's first two strikes, marking her third career multi-goal effort and her second in the past three weeks. After moving into the starting lineup five games ago, the junior juggernaut now has four goals and five assists during that span.

Along with Steele, Delaney Norr deposited a first-half dart. Following the break, three of the team's top defenders joined the fun on the offensive end. Chloe Thompson drove home her second goal of the year, while Kendall Gibson and Avi McWhorter came through with their first career tallies.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improved to 11-0 on the season, while the setback dropped Rhodes to 9-3.

Less than a minute into regulation, Alexis Morales flipped a spinner into the offensive end. After taking possession, Steele circled towards the left pipe while rolling underneath a defender. With a little room to work, she cut inside and whistled a rocket around the keeper for the game's first goal.

Her strike came just 50 seconds into regulation, marking the sixth-fastest goal to open a contest in school history. Incredibly, Steele now has two of the six-quickest strikes after scoring 29 seconds into regulation against No. 17 Bryn Mawr on September 23.

Following the early goal, the Captains set the tone on the defensive side. Abby Asuncion made a leaping deflection to knock down a clear attempt along the 25. Later, Katie Abendschoen swiped a roller from an attacker, Lainey Pratzner plucked a pair along the right sideline, and Brooke Billhimer intercepted a long hit that just dribbled across midfield.

As the defense continued to silence the Lynx, CNU's offense kept pressure on Rhodes' back line. Caroline Hughlett cut a crosser to her sister, but Courtney Hughlett's rush was broken up by a defender. Emily Evans also had an on-target dagger turned away by the keeper before Christopher Newport picked up a corner in the 12th minute.

Looking to capitalize, Evans connected with Morales, who took the insert and pumped a one-timer towards the right post. With the defense in a solid position, Steele scooted inside, found an opening between a defender and the goalie, and redirected the blast into the back of the cage for her second straight strike.

Staring at a 2-0 deficit, Rhodes tried to respond but ran into a brick wall. On the back end, Billhimer cut off a rush along the end line and forced a pass, which Morales quickly gobbled up to finish off the opening period.

In the second stanza, Christopher Newport continued to assert its will on the defensive side. Pratzner won a battle along the right sideline to steal possession before Abendschoen picked off another one in the middle of the field. Later, Asuncion wrestled the ball away from an attacker and sliced a feed to Norr, who burst up the turf on a clear.

Although Rhodes brushed aside CNU's early advances in the quarter, the Lynx could never land a counterpunch. Norr had a tackle near the arc before Ellie Nuckols ripped the ball away along the end line. Shortly thereafter, Billhimer was isolated one-on-one with an attacker in the left corner, but she quickly swiped the ball off the stick of her opponent and blistered a rope up the field to clear the threat.

With time ticking down in the first half, McWhorter came through with back-to-back tackles along the left sideline before Billhimer deflected a pass inside the circle. Later, the Captains flipped the field as Morales connected with Norr, who slipped a ball between the legs of a defender and drew a corner in the final minutes of the period.

Capitalizing on the possession, Asuncion laced an absolute scorcher from the top of the circle. Although Rhodes' goalie survived the initial assault, Courtney Hughlett tracked down the ricochet on the right side of the zone. In tight quarters, she squeezed a pass to Norr, who deflected it between two defenders and the goalie for the final strike of the first half.

After the break, Christopher Newport quickly stretched its advantage. Following a corner in the 33rd minute, the Captains unleashed fury on Rhodes' back line. Morales and Asuncion both had on-target rips turned aside, but Thompson scurried in from the end line. Although her initial blast was kicked away by the keeper, she secured her own rebound and wrapped a shot around the goalie for the team's fourth goal.

Still looking for an answer, the Lynx attempted another rally in the middle of the period, but Billhimer stripped an attacker in the right corner before Thompson punched one away along the 25.

Following the defensive stand, the Captains kept the ball planted in their offensive zone. Norr and Morales both had a pair of shots turned away by the keeper, while Lindsey Loar had an attempt blocked by a defender as Rhodes kept the deficit at four entering the final period.

In the fourth frame, Joelie Erwin opened the quarter with a tremendous tackle along the right sideline before Abendschoen flashed her stick skills while batting down a line-drive aerial. Billhimer also stood up an attacker who tried to bully her way across the arc during an early push by the Lynx.

Meanwhile, on the offensive end, Christopher Newport stretched its lead in the 49th minute. Taking possession outside of the circle, Gibson did the rest by herself. The freshman cut through two defenders before working her way to the end line. After pulling underneath a third player, she popped a shot that was kicked aside by the keeper. Unfazed, she stuck with the play, grabbed the rebound, and snapped off a second-chance screamer that tattooed the back of the cage for her first career goal.

Just three minutes later, McWhorter found an opening as well. Off a corner, Morales used a quick touch-pass to Asuncion, who rolled across the edge of the arc. From the top right, the fifth-year phenom launched a laser back into the center of the circle. On the receiving end, McWhorter was well-positioned to receive the feed and fire it through the defense for her first strike.

With little left to prove, Christopher Newport focused on the shutout. With seven minutes remaining, Morales picked off a pass on the defensive end and dribbled the ball nearly 50 yards while weaving through a host of midfielders. Later, Pratzner broke up a run, spun through two defenders, and pumped a clear up the field. Shortly thereafter, Abendschoen won a race for a deflection up the sideline before spinning the ball to McWhorter, who helped punctuate the final defensive stand.

Overall, the Captains held a 38-0 advantage in shots and a 17-0 lead in corners. Lily Kerr and Ella Fallen teamed up for the shutout, while Rhodes' Catherine Gluodenis added 17 saves for the Lynx.

Christopher Newport will return to action on Tuesday at 1 p.m. when the Captains travel to Susquehanna.

---ISH---