FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Completing one of the most remarkable comebacks in program history, the Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team erased a five-goal deficit in the fourth quarter before Kelsey Winters landed the game-winning strike in overtime to seal a 14-13 victory over Mary Washington during a Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference thriller on Saturday evening at the Battleground Turf Field.

Although Winters polished off the come-from-behind victory, Julia Iapicca put the team on her back in the waning moments of regulation. The senior star deposited four goals in the fourth quarter, including the equalizer with 20 seconds left on the clock. Eventually, she finished the contest with six total tallies, matching the most of her career.

Joining the list of late-game heroes, Syd Guidi also sank a dagger in the final minute of action, while Hadley Chadwick made a highlight-reel save with less than 90 seconds left in the fourth quarter to thwart Mary Washington's final offensive possession.

In the end, Chadwick finished the contest with 12 stops, equaling her season-high.

Along with her game-winning goal, Winters drove home the 100th strike of her career in the first quarter, becoming just the 17th Captain in school history to reach the century mark. She also stands as one of only three players to record at least 100 goals and 100 assists in a single tenure, joining Christopher Newport Hall of Famer Meghan Harkey and former All-American Meaghan Galvin.

Rounding out the history-makers on Saturday, Kendall Krause started her 76th career game. That moved her to the top of the program's all-time list, passing Christopher Newport Hall of Famer Kaitlin Quigley and longtime legend Rachel Tomlinson.

With the victory, the Captains improved to 9-6 on the season, including 1-0 in conference action. The setback dropped Mary Washington to 9-8 overall and 0-2 against league foes.

Entering the fourth quarter staring at an 11-6 deficit, Christopher Newport showed incredible resolve. Undeterred by the scoreboard, the visitors dug in. Early on, the Captains stepped up on the defensive end. Riley Rafterry-Lee pushed back against a series of dodges before Emma Jackson stoned a run on the right side and Chadwick swallowed a shot between the pipes. Shortly thereafter, Brookelyn Morrison blanketed a midfielder and intercepted a pass along the left sideline before Krause stripped another Eagle during a separate surge.

Later, Madi Rozgonyi clubbed the ball loose along the right side of the crease before winning a battle with two attackers to secure possession. 

With the defense pushing back against the high-powered UMW attack, Christopher Newport's offense found its rhythm. Kicking things off, Iapicca caught the hosts in transition with a scamper up the right sideline before converting a bouncer into the back of the cage. Three minutes later, the visitors inched closer after Mary Washington failed to clear the ball.

After stopping a shot in the 50th minute, the Eagles attempted to move the ball up the field. However, the Captains refused to give an inch. Winters and Morrison both locked off defenders to prevent easy outlets. Meanwhile, Sloane McDonald raced over and pressured the defender who had possession along the left sideline. With nowhere to go, the Eagle tried to toss the ball back to the keeper, but it hopped past the goalie and into the cage for Christopher Newport's eighth tally.

Although Mary Washington regrouped and hung a pair of goals on the board in the middle of the period, the Captains never slowed down. Between UMW's strikes, Winters landed one of her own. On the play, she pushed past the right pipe and threw on the brakes. With her defender out of position, she elevated and orchestrated a midair pirouette before stinging a shot inside the left post.

Still trailing by four with less than five minutes left in regulation, the Captains had more work to do. On the defensive side, Iapicca disrupted a pass on the interior before Rafterry-Lee snared the loose ball. Capitalizing on her own efforts, Iapicca came back on the offensive end with her second dart of the period to cut the deficit down to three.

After regaining possession following a foul on the Eagles, McDonald set up the team's 11th goal. Bullying her way inside, she was eventually knocked down to the turf but kept her wits while blanketed by a slew of defenders. Incredibly, she regained her footing, wiggled out of the crowd, and handed the ball off to Iapicca.

With another opportunity, the senior secured a free-position attempt and capitalized on a sidewinder around the keeper.

On the ensuing draw, Mary Washington gained possession with less than two minutes left on the clock. Looking for the fatal dagger, the Eagles rushed their possession. Eventually, an attacker slipped free along the crease and attempted a reverse shovel shot, but Chadwick made a game-saving stop to stone the highlight-reel rip.

Back in control with less than a minute left in regulation, Guidi continued the comeback. Using a stutter-step to gain some space, she cut back to her left, burst through a wall of defenders, and deposited her second goal of the game.

Still down by one, Morrison controlled the subsequent draw and scurried up the field. Needing a quick strike, the Captains fed the hot hand. Taking possession at the top of the zone, Iapicca rolled to her right. Getting a step on her defender, she eventually cut back inside and snapped a shot into the bottom left corner of the cage to force overtime.

Back on even ground for the first time since the opening quarter, Christopher Newport entered the extra session with all of the momentum. Kicking off the bonus period, Guidi grabbed the opening draw following a flip from Maddie Tomaszewski. After settling in on the offensive side, Winters took over.

Isolated one-on-one with a defender just behind the cage on the left side of the field, she slowly moved up the turf. Backing her way in, Winters carried the defender while dropping her shoulder on a curl. Eventually, she rolled right through the Eagle before whipping a one-timer inside the pipe for the clinching blow.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 29-28 advantage in shots and an 11-9 lead in ground balls. Meanwhile, Mary Washington controlled 17 of the game's 29 draws, although the Captains claimed the final three.

Long before the overtime heroics, the visitors stormed out to an early lead against the Eagles. Morrison capitalized on a low liner to open the scoring in the second minute of action. Shortly thereafter, Winters steamed around the crease and rifled a rocket over the head of a defender for her 100th career goal.

Meanwhile, on the defensive side, Maddie Rusinko pushed a shooter off her mark to force a low-percentage attempt. Rozgonyi also swatted a pass on the inside, while Iapicca robbed a midfielder with a trail-check on a failed clear.

Following the defensive stand, the attack added their third tally. Drawing a defender away from the center of the zone, Winters created a little room on the interior. Eventually, Hope Hunter filled the void, grabbed a feed, and unleashed a turnaround tracer for her first goal.

Unfortunately, the Eagles fired back. Grabbing control of the contest, Mary Washington used a late surge to steal a 4-3 lead at the end of the opening period. Later, the hosts kept the momentum in the second stanza. Although Iapicca and Guidi both converted free-position attempts, the Eagles stretched their advantage to 8-5 entering halftime.

Following the break, Christopher Newport regained some traction. Early in the third frame, Rafterry-Lee knocked down a pass while standing face-to-face with an attacker along the left side of the crease. Later, Chadwick came back with two straight saves, including a great grab after a failed clear in the 35th minute.

Meanwhile, on the offensive end, Iapicca added her second goal after working her way through the stick of a defender before burying a missile under the crossbar.

Although Mary Washington shrugged off the momentary setback and gained an 11-6 lead at the end of the third quarter, the five-goal advantage was not enough. Fighting until the very end, the Captains eventually scrapped their way back into the game before polishing off the historic comeback.

The five-goal deficit equaled the second-largest that Christopher Newport has overcome in program history. Incredibly, Saturday's game marked the second time this season that the team rallied from a five-goal hole in the fourth quarter after performing a similar miracle at No. 24 Haverford on February 25.

The Captains will return to action on Wednesday with a 5 p.m. tilt against Catholic at Jennings Family Stadium.

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