Live Stats // Video Stream
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Facing the first of seven match-ups this year against programs currently ranked in the top-25, the third-ranked Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team will travel to No. 20 Stevenson for a Saturday night showdown under the lights at Mustang Stadium in Owings Mills, Maryland.
Making the squad's first road trip of the year, Christopher Newport currently sits at 1-0 after knocking off Grove City at home last weekend. Meanwhile, Stevenson is 0-1 after dropping a road test at No. 19 Ursinus on Saturday.
For those fans unable to attend the game, live stats and a video stream of the action will be available at GoMustangSports.com. Direct links to both features can be found at the top of this release and on the schedule page.
Christopher Newport kicked off the 2023 campaign with a historic showcase against Grove City on February 18. Facing a team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year, the Captains broke the game open in the second half. The squad outscored its opposition, 11-2, over the final 30 minutes to pull away for a 23-11 victory.
Headlining the squad's efforts,
Warner Cabaniss controlled possession throughout the contest. The sophomore standout established a new program record with 26 faceoff victories, breaking the previous standard of 24 set by former All-American Tony Cruz against Virginia Wesleyan on March 11, 2015. Taking control of the game in the second quarter, he eventually won 14 straight faceoffs, which equaled the third-longest streak in program history.
Handling a lot of the work himself, Cabaniss eventually finished with 16 ground balls, which fell just one shy of matching his own school record set at Catholic on March 5, 2022. Fittingly, for his efforts, the reigning All-American was named the Coastal Lacrosse Conference Defensive Player of the Week and earned a spot on the USILA National Team of the Week.
In addition to Cabaniss,
Brett Jackson also secured National Team of the Week honors. The second-year star deposited seven goals against Grove City, which equaled the second-highest total in school history and the most for a player making his first collegiate start. Among his highlights, he landed the go-ahead goal that broke a 7-7 deadlock in the second quarter before adding five points in the final stanza, which put the game on ice.
Along with the decorated duo,
Andrew Cook handed out five assists in the season opener, which equaled the eighth-highest total by a Captain. Cook also snapped off a pair of man-up tallies, while Jackson,
Alex Brendes, and
Robby Adams also capitalized on extra-man situations. Overall, the five man-up goals equaled the fourth-most in program history.
Meanwhile, on the defensive side,
Burke Widhelm and
Ryan Young collected three takeaways apiece, while
Mason Beckmeyer and
Brandon Young had two each.
Stevenson enters the weekend after suffering a 14-11 setback at Ursinus in the season opener last weekend. A goal by Josh Brannan gave the Mustangs a 10-9 lead at the start of the fourth quarter, but the Bears drove home five of the game's final six strikes to steal the win. Overall, Cam Leydig led Stevenson with six goals, while Justin Scorese added 12 saves and Garrett Goudreau won eight of his 12 faceoffs.
In addition to the opening day standouts, Stevenson returns a pair of Preseason All-Americans from last year's squad. Mitchell Lachman is coming off of a year in which he produced 38 goals in 16 appearances. Meanwhile, Ryan Quinn is a force on the defensive side after causing 30 turnovers in 2022.
Saturday's meeting will mark the fifth all-time match-up between the two programs with both squads boasting a pair of wins. The last battle came during the 2021 NCAA Tournament with Christopher Newport pulling out a 10-5 win in Maryland. Brendes had six points during that victory, while
Coby Auslander added four assists.
After this weekend's road action, Christopher Newport will return to Jennings Family Stadium for the start of a four-game homestand against Randolph-Macon on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
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