NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Holding a modest one-goal advantage entering the fourth quarter, the top-ranked Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team deposited seven strikes in the final stanza, including three by Brett Jackson, as the Captains pulled away for a comfortable 14-8 triumph over Williams during a sun-soaked Wednesday matinee at Jennings Family Stadium.

Leading the way, Jackson finished the contest with a game-high five goals, including his 10th man-up dagger of the season. That not only ranks second on the national charts this year, but it also stands as the second-most by a Captain in program history. He only trails longtime legend Will Geise, who deposited 11 man-up goals in 2017.

Along with Jackson, Alex Brendes recorded six points, including four assists. Andrew Cook also had three tallies and three helpers for the Captains, while Coby Auslander chipped in with a hat-trick.

On the other end of the field, Ryan Young forced five turnovers, and Mason Beckmeyer notched two. Zac Hanway also added two strips to go along with 12 saves. That performance was his fifth straight outing with double-digit stops, marking the longest run of his career.

Dominating on faceoffs, Warner Cabaniss won 16 of his 24 battles, including eight of nine in the fourth quarter. Helping out on the wing, Campbell Pozin collected three ground balls, including the 169th of his career. That moved him into the top-10 on the program's all-time charts, vaulting him past former All-American Dylan Rice.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improved to 11-0 on the season, while the setback dropped Williams to 4-3.

Building a quick lead, the Captains scored the first three goals of the game. Kicking things off, Will Mercado set a screen that disrupted a pair of defenders, which allowed Cook to circle around the top of the zone before whistling a one-timer. Later, Daniel Siaton scored after surviving a violent altercation along the right pipe with two Ephs before Auslander joined the party with a dart on the doorstep.

On the other end of the field, Christopher Newport locked down the opposition in the early going. Hanway had a save and strip in the first three minutes of regulation before Young posted his first two takeaways. Although Williams came back with a pair of goals, Young had an emphatic answer on the defensive end.

With just over two minutes remaining in the period, the visitors called for a timeout. Coming out of the break, Williams had an opportunity to knot the score at three, but Young quickly put an end to the rally. Riding an opponent up the left side of the zone, he managed to get his stick underneath the attacker's arm. With enough leverage, Young physically lifted him off of the field before burying him into the turf, which resulted in his third caused turnover of the stanza.

In the second period, Auslander immediately stretched the lead to two after skipping a blast into the back of the net in the 16th minute.

Responding on the other end of the field, Williams tossed two straight goals on the board in the middle of the quarter to tie the game at four. Looking for a response, Christopher Newport capitalized on a penalty with two minutes left in the first half.

After winning a foot race to back up an errant shot, Jackson took advantage of his own hustle. Securing a feed from Brendes, he bounced a bullet off the turf, which gave the hosts a 5-4 edge entering halftime.

Following the break, the two teams continued to trade blows. After Williams tied the game at five, Jackson broke the deadlock with a rip from the right side. Less than a minute later, the Ephs landed another equalizer before Brendes peppered a shot into the top right corner of the cage, which secured another one-goal edge entering the fourth period.

Looking for some breathing room, Christopher Newport caught fire at the start of the final quarter. Cook snapped off back-to-back screamers, including one blast that saw him split three defenders from 15 yards out. After showcasing his finishing skills, the senior set up a goal by Brendes, who pushed the lead to 10-6 before Williams called for a timeout.

After the stoppage, the Ephs pulled back with three before the Captains put the game on ice.

First, on the defensive side, Hanway plucked an errant pass to kill off an early rally before adding back-to-back stops during a lengthy surge by the visitors. After Christopher Newport cleared the defensive end, Brendes laced a skip pass to Jackson, who bounced one into the bottom left corner of the cage.

Just seconds later, after Cabaniss won the ensuing faceoff, Pozin snatched the roller and bolted up the field. Feeding the hot hand, he dished the ball to Jackson, who went through the five-hole and split the wickets of the Williams keeper for his second straight strike.

The 12-second span between Jackson's goals equaled the fourth-shortest in program history.

Still motoring along, Drew Miller whistled a pass to Auslander, who scored along the right post before Jackson added one final highlight with four minutes left in regulation.

Capping off his afternoon, the sophomore star was pinned in the right corner by a pair of Ephs. Unfazed by the situation, he simply bullied his way through the double-team before circling past a third defender in the center of the zone. With little left to prove, he buried his fifth goal just inside the left pipe, which helped lock up the 14-8 triumph.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 45-35 advantage in shots and a 35-27 lead in ground balls. Cabaniss finished with a game-high 10 rollers while helping the Captains win 16 of the game's 25 faceoffs.

Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday with a 7 p.m. tilt at No. 11 Lynchburg.

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