OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Behind a record-setting performance by Andrew Cook, the third-ranked Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team rolled past No. 20 Stevenson, 19-11, during a nationally-ranked showdown on Saturday evening at Mustang Stadium.

During the contest, Cook broke the single-game school record with nine goals. That topped former All-American Dylan Rice's eight-goal outburst against Roanoke on February 12, 2022. Meanwhile, Cook's 10 total points tied the program standard, which Rice accomplished three times during his decorated career.

Along with Cook's showcase, Warner Cabaniss added a little history of his own. The freshman faceoff specialist secured 17 ground balls, which equaled his own school record set against Catholic on March 5, 2022. Additionally, his 21 faceoff victories matched the fourth-highest total in program history and the most against a top-20 foe.

In addition to the history-makers, Brett Jackson and Drew Miller both contributed hat-tricks, while Coby Auslander handed out five assists. Alex Brendes also chipped in with five points for the victors after registering two goals and three helpers.

Overall, Christopher Newport's 19 goals marked the most allowed by Stevenson since Tufts also deposited 19 tallies during the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2019.

Equally impactful on the defensive end, Zac Hanway plucked 11 saves for the Captains, and Ryan Young added four takeaways and three ground balls while anchoring the back line. 

With the victory, Christopher Newport moved to 2-0 on the season, while the setback dropped Stevenson to 0-2.

At the outset of Saturday's action, the Mustangs kept consistent pressure on Christopher Newport's defense. Controlling the tempo, the hosts tested the Captains on the back end, but Hanway was up to the challenge. The senior goalie made four saves in the early going before Stevenson finally broke the seal in the ninth minute.

Staring at a 1-0 deficit, Christopher Newport bounced back. Less than a minute later, Cook kicked off his evening with a bullet just under the crossbar. Shortly thereafter, he added his second dagger after ripping the ball through a wall of defenders, which gave the visitors their first lead of the game.

With more work to be done, Auslander continued the assault after dipping underneath his defender before landing a dart along the right pipe while shrugging off a hard check from behind. Then, after another quick faceoff win by Cabaniss, Cook completed his first-quarter hat-trick. Tormenting the defense, he dodged to his left, switched hands, and unloaded another missile on the move for his third goal of the period.

Although Stevenson finally responded at the end of the opening quarter, Christopher Newport retaliated in the second stanza. Blistering the back line, Jackson joined the fun after capitalizing on an unsettled situation in the 18th minute. Shortly thereafter, Brendes drew a crowd on the left side of the zone. Rushing up the field, he eventually slipped a feed to Miller, who settled into a vacated space along the right pipe. With a clean look at an open cage, he snatched the feed on his knees before dunking on the doorstep.

Capping off a three-goal spurt, Cook came back with his fourth tally after spinning through the defense before driving home another nail along the left post.

Following a Stevenson timeout, the defense stepped up. Young deflected a pass on the interior before Campbell Pozin bodied up a shooter and caused an off-balance attempt on the same possession. Later, Burke Widhelm tied an attacker in knots and dropped him to the turf while helping force a shot-clock violation.

Although the Mustangs eventually found a rhythm in the middle of the period while collecting three goals in the span of three minutes, Christopher Newport had an answer. During Stevenson's surge, Cabaniss won a faceoff to himself, pushed forward, and found Miller on the left wing for the squad's eighth strike.

Continuing to find openings, Auslander shoveled a feed to Cook, who whistled a one-timer for his fifth tally. Moments later, Will Mercado stepped down from the top of the zone and buzzed a bullet past the earhole of two defenders on the way to a 10-5 lead.

Remaining steadfast on the defensive end as well, Mason Beckmeyer deflected a shot that Young collected to end a rally by the hosts. Pozin also stripped an attacker before Young broke up two passes that nearly set up back-to-back breakaways during a pair of transition opportunities by the Mustangs.

Unfortunately, Stevenson eventually began to chip away at its deficit. Just before the horn sounded at the end of the first half, the Mustangs pulled back within four. Then, after halftime, the team tallied three of the first four goals to cut its deficit down to 11-9.

With the game hanging in the balance, Christopher Newport turned back to Cook. Hammering away at the defense, the senior sensation slapped three goals on the board in the final four minutes of the third quarter. Changing levels, he landed his sixth strike just under the crossbar before buzzing a low liner into the bottom right corner of the cage for his seventh tally.

With time winding down in the period, he added his eighth dart after collecting a loose ball that bounced through the defense before snapping off a screamer inside the left post.

Carrying a 14-10 lead into the fourth quarter, Christopher Newport kept pushing on the offensive end. Less than a minute into the final stanza, Cook added his record-setting ninth goal. Running a two-man game with Brendes on the left side of the field, Cook joined forces on a picture perfect pick-and-roll. After setting a screen that bottled up a pair of defenders, he cut inside, grabbed a pass from Brendes, and converted on the run.

With a little more cushion, the Captains showed off some flair to stretch their lead. First, Auslander threaded a pass to Miller, who caught the feed in traffic and went behind-the-back for his third goal. Moments later, Brendes collected the ball along the crease and shook the goalie with a hesitation move to snatch a 17-10 advantage.

After that point, the rout was on. Jackson added the final two nails with back-to-back goals, including a sidewinder around a defender during an extra-man situation. Then, the defense closed out the contest.

With just over two minutes remaining, Young put an emphatic end to his evening after ripping the stick right out of an attacker's hands to force his fourth turnover. With little left to prove, Hanway came through with the final highlight after making a fantastic save on a pointblank rip during an odd-man rush with 20 seconds left in regulation.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 56-35 advantage in shots and a 30-23 lead in ground balls. The Captains also won 23 of the game's 33 faceoffs, aided by Cabaniss' historic work at the dot.

Christopher Newport will return to action on Wednesday when the team hosts Randolph-Macon at 4 p.m.

---ISH---