NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Making her first appearance since 2021, Julia Iapicca established a new career-high with six points while helping lead the Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team to a commanding 21-2 victory over Virginia Wesleyan on a chilly Saturday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.

After being sidelined with an injury last year, Iapicca made up for lost time as the senior deposited a game-high five goals. Meanwhile, Kelsey Winters picked up where she left off in 2022 with nine points. Among her exploits, she netted a hat-trick and handed out six assists, which equaled the ninth-most by a player in school history. 

Overall, six total Captains collected multi-goal efforts, including a historic showcase by freshman Brookelyn Morrison.

Stuffing the stat sheet, Morrison flashed a well-balanced skill set while producing in every facet of the game. The first-year phenom recorded two goals, two assists, and two draw controls while collecting three caused turnovers and five ground balls on the defensive end. With that performance, she became just the eighth player in school history to register at least two strikes, two helpers, two draws, two takeaways, and two rollers in a single game, joining an illustrious group headlined by former All-American Meaghan Galvin and Christopher Newport Hall of Famer Kaitlin Quigley.

Incredibly, Morrison accomplished all of that in her first collegiate outing. In fact, she became just the second freshman in program history to produce that stat line in a single game, joining legendary star Rachel Tomlinson, who also accomplished the feat in her debut against N.C. Wesleyan on March 6, 2010.

In addition to the offensive heroics, Christopher Newport blanketed the field on the defensive end throughout Saturday's contest. The Captains caused 27 turnovers, which marked the second-highest total in program history and the most since the team forced 30 miscues at Averett on March 29, 2003.

Leading the way on the defensive side, Emma Jackson had four takeaways to go along with seven draw controls. Fellow Preseason All-American Kendall Krause also added three strips from her perch on the midfield unit, while Maddie Rusinko had two caused turnovers and four ground balls on the back end.

Finding her groove early, Morrison kicked off the festivities with a slick assist after finding Hope Hunter burning a path towards the cage. Although Virginia Wesleyan responded with a goal in the third minute, Christopher Newport quickly took control.

Breaking the deadlock, Iapicca flashed her skills. The fourth-year phenom assisted on a dart by Sloane McDonald before showing off her own athleticism. Bursting to her left, she stopped on a dime, spun back to her right, and left a defender in the dust on the way to her first goal of the game.

With a modest 3-1 lead, the defense stepped up with a back-breaking four-minute stand in the middle of the period. At the center of the action, Morrison caused an errant pass with tremendous pressure along the right sideline. Eventually, Rusinko gobbled up the loose ball and flipped the field.

Seconds later, after the Marlins regained control, Morrison stuck to the hip of a midfielder and caused another bad feed, which Madi Rozgonyi and Celia Kelaher cleaned up. Shortly thereafter, Syd Guidi stripped an attacker on a failed clear before Winters made a leaping interception while toeing the sideline to thwart another rally.

Putting a punctuation mark on the defensive stand in the eighth minute, Rozgonyi and Kelaher teamed up again on the left side of the crease to stonewall an attacker before clearing the zone.

After that point, the offense did the rest. Krause capitalized on the interior, Guidi broke through a double-team, and Winters sank a screamer after a quick hop-step to shake a defender in the center of the zone on the way to a 6-1 lead.

At the start of the second stanza, Morrison continued to shine on the defensive end. Making her presence felt from sideline to sideline, she drove an attacker straight out of bounds along the left side of the field. Minutes later, she dislodged the ball from another Marlin with a texbook stick-check along the right sideline.

Along with her defensive efforts, Morrison also landed her first career goal with a high-to-low laser inside the left pipe. Meanwhile, Iapicca converted a free-position attempt and added a strike in transition in the 23rd minute. Winters also found her rhythm in the middle of the stanza with a terrific run that showcased her skills.

During a five-minute window, Winters connected with McDonald and Morrison on teardrop passes from behind the cage. She also blistered the defense with an incredible tally of her own. Curling around the right post, she unleashed a devastating cutback that left a defender sprawled out on the turf before slamming a shot inside the pipe.

After Winters' rally, Guidi polished off the first half by running past four defenders on the way to the squad's 13th goal just before halftime.

Following the break, Maggie Lockard had a fantastic run early in the third quarter. In the 33rd minute, she charged towards the crease, grabbed a pass from Winters, and capitalized on the run. Less than two minutes later, she helped free up some space in the middle of the field. As Winters rolled across the top of the zone, Lockard set a screen that dropped two players to the turf. With bodies strewn across the field, Winters sidestepped the traffic and completed her hat-trick.

Holding a 15-1 lead, Christopher Newport continued to roll. Hunter netted a free-position rocket before Iapicca added her final two tallies, including a gorgeous bouncer off a pass from Winters.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the field, the Captains continued to control Virginia Wesleyan's advances. Jackson dropped the hammer on a Marlin to force a turnover late in the third period. Moments later, Alexa Romero swatted away a pass on the interior to bottle up another surge.

Following the second takeaway, Rozgonyi pounced on the roller and generated a breakaway. Storming up the field, she eventually gave up possession before Winters handed it back. Catching the pass in motion, she spun around and landed an acrobatic dart on the move for her first collegiate goal.

Entering the final period with a 19-1 lead, Christopher Newport unleashed a relentless assault on the Virginia Wesleyan defense, but the Captains were stymied early by a series of phenomenal saves by VWU's Kirsten Ivory. However, the hosts would not be deterred and eventually capitalized on the mounting pressure with two final tallies.

Finishing off the contest, Maelyn Eversole cleared a defender before sprinting towards the cage for her second career goal. Later, Morrison wrapped up her debut with a bounce pass to Sophia Laubner, who capped off the freshman-to-freshman connection with a missile inside the left pipe.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 45-6 advantage in shots and a 28-16 lead in ground balls. The Captains also controlled 15 of the game's 27 draws. Meanwhile, Taylor Schoolar and Hadley Chadwick combined for a pair of saves and two takeaways during their time between the pipes.

The Captains will return to action on February 18 when the team hosts No. 8 Washington & Lee at 3:30 p.m.

---ISH---