LEXINGTON, Va. -- Facing their third straight test against a top-10 foe, the second-ranked Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team continued its winning ways as the Captains set aside No. 6 Washington & Lee, 16-11, during the sixth annual Virginia "Lacrosse the Nations" Cup at Wilson Field on Wednesday evening.

Against the Generals, Alex Brendes and Brett Jackson both deposited five goals, while Drew Miller added four points. Coby Auslander also chipped in with a goal and three assists. With that performance, he joined former legend Matt Crist as the only Captains in school history with 100 career helpers. The fourth-year phenom now has 101 assists, just five shy of matching Crist's all-time record.

Along with Auslander, Andrew Cook also made some history on Wednesday. The senior star registered a goal in his 28th consecutive appearance dating back to last year. That stands as the longest scoring streak in school history, topping All-American Dylan Rice's run of 27 straight games with a goal from April 24, 2021 through May 21, 2022.

In addition to the offensive heroes, Zac Hanway pocketed 12 saves, marking his third straight contest with double-digit stops.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improved to 9-0 on the season, while the setback dropped Washington & Lee to 6-2. It also marked the Captains' third straight win in the Virginia "Lacrosse the Nations" Cup. The annual game is used to raise awareness for "Lacrosse the Nations," which is an international organization that utilizes sports to teach important life skills to children in need.

Following victories over No. 1 RIT and No. 7 Dickinson during the Mustang Classic last week, the Captains continued their gauntlet with another top-10 showdown on Wednesday. After both squads traded goals in the early going, including a dagger by Miller, Christopher Newport opened up a lead with a lethal offensive assault. Kicking things off, Brendes spun around a defender in the center of the zone before sniping from the inside. Moments later, after Will Mercado set a screen on the right side of the field, Jackson capitalized with a lefty laser.

Still rolling, Daniel Siaton collected a fast flip from Miller before unleashing a high-to-high rocket along the right post. Then, after a quick clear, the Captains added a transition strike for their fourth straight goal. With Washington & Lee's defense trying to catch up, Auslander found Brendes, who landed a bouncer into the back of the cage.

Meanwhile, the defense was equally effective. Early in the opening frame, Campbell Pozin got into the hands of a shooter and forced an off-balance attempt, which Hanway quickly corralled. Moments later, after a failed clear, Hanway made back-to-back stops on pointblank rips, which helped the visitors carry a 5-2 edge into the second stanza.

After Christopher Newport was hit with a penalty early in the second period, the downers came through with a key stop. During the defensive stand, Ryan Cammarata secured a loose ball and pieced together a physical clear that saw him absorb a series of hits while battling his way across midfield before handing the ball back to the attack.

Taking advantage on the other end, Brendes tiptoed along the left side of the crease before diving in front of the cage for his third goal. Just over one minute later, Cook spun to his right, dipped underneath a defender, and launched a one-timer from the left side of the field.

After the Generals responded with their third goal, the Captains went right back to work. Following an initial save in the 21st minute, a mad scramble broke out in front of the crease. Eventually, Mercado was buried underneath three Generals while searching for the ball. Incredibly, the roller squirted out of the carnage and found its way back to Brendes, who cleaned up the trash with a dunk on the doorstep.

Less than 90 seconds later, after a clutch man-down save by Hanway, the Captains came back for more. After returning to even strength, Jackson was a one-man wrecking crew. Isolated on the right side of the field, he simply lowered his shoulder and barreled straight through the chest of a defender. After clearing out some space, he snapped off his second strike of the game.

Staring at a 9-3 deficit, the hosts retaliated. Stringing together three straight goals, Washington & Lee pulled back within three. Searching for a response before halftime, Christopher Newport found an answer. Following a penalty on the Generals, Auslander dished the ball to Miller, who unleashed a man-up missile just before the horn sounded to regain a four-goal edge.

After the break, Jackson immediately landed his third goal of the contest before Cammarata set up the squad's 12th tally. On the ensuing faceoff, the long pole won a scrum for the loose ball and charged towards the cage. Although his initial shot was stoned by the keeper, he stuck with the play and collected his own rebound after winning a brawl in the right corner. With a second chance, Jackson found Mercado dancing along the crease for a 12-6 lead.

With the offense clicking, the defense was equally impressive. Early in the period, Aidan Wheeler deflected a pass during a lengthy surge by the hosts before Ryan Young ate up an attacker to help kill off the rally. Later, in the middle of the stanza, Hanway made a pair of saves, including a huge stop to thwart a surge during an unsettled situation following a failed clear by the Captains.

Entering the fourth quarter with a 12-7 advantage, Christopher Newport continued to look sharp on both ends of the field. First, on the defensive side, Pozin stood chest-to-chest with a shooter and prevented an attempt with physical play at the top of the zone. Later, on the other end, Miller teamed up with Auslander on a little give-and-go along the right pipe for the squad's 13th goal.

Trading punches, the Generals answered with their eighth strike before the Captains shot back with a quick response. Landing back-to-back blows, Jackson ripped a rocket from the right side of the field before Brendes skipped a shot through four defenders, which gave Christopher Newport a 15-8 lead with six minutes remaining in regulation.

Although Washington & Lee continued to fight and scored three straight goals, Christopher Newport's lead was never in doubt. Keeping a lid on the opposition, Mason Beckmeyer blocked a shot in the middle of the period, while Hanway added two straight saves from his knees to slam the door on another rally.

Finally, with time winding down, Jackson hammered home the last nail as he ran past three defenders, circled through the zone, and deposited an empty-netter to close out the 16-11 triumph.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 53-38 advantage in shots, while both teams collected 29 ground balls. Warner Cabaniss led the way with 10 rollers while going 19-for-30 on faceoffs. Pozin also corralled five ground balls, while Luke Nardone snatched four.

The Captains will be back in action on Saturday when the squad returns home for a 6 p.m. test against Hampden-Sydney.

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