ASHLAND, Va. -- Controlling possession throughout the contest, the Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team capitalized on several historic efforts while cruising to a 17-9 victory over Randolph-Macon on Wednesday evening at Day Field.
Against the Yellow Jackets, the Captains secured 23 draw controls, which marked the fourth-most in program history and the highest amount since the squad posted an identical total against Greensboro on April 13, 2013. Overall, Christopher Newport held a commanding 23-7 edge on the draw. That marked the most lopsided advantage in a single game since the Captains controlled 21 of 26 draws against the same Randolph-Macon team on March 14, 2017.
Leading the way,
Syd Guidi was nearly unstoppable. The third-year star posted 13 draws, which equaled the second-most by a Captain in school history. She also chipped in with four goals and an assist. With that showcase, she became just the fifth player in program history to record at least 10 draws and five points in a single game, joining a Who's-Who list of former legends including All-American Meaghan Galvin, Christopher Newport Hall of Famer Kaitlin Quigley, and former stars Julia Golden and Cat Leighty.
Along with Guidi,
Kelsey Winters had seven assists, which equaled the sixth-highest total by a Captain. Meanwhile,
Julia Iapicca landed five goals, and
Brookelyn Morrison produced a hat-trick. That marked Morrison's fourth straight multi-goal effort, equaling the longest run by a freshman since Leighty had five in a row during her debut campaign in 2018.
As a team, Christopher Newport eclipsed 15 goals for the fourth consecutive contest, matching the longest run since the 2013 squad reached that mark in nine straight outings while rolling to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Overall, the Captains now sit at 6-5 on the season, while the Yellow Jackets have an identical record.
Although Randolph-Macon burst out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first three minutes of action, Christopher Newport battled back. In less than 90 seconds, Iapicca landed the first blow for the Captains before
Sloane McDonald added the equalizer off a feed from Guidi, which evened the score at two.
Continuing the seesaw affair, the Yellow Jackets responded with a pair of goals before Winters joined the fun. With just over four minutes left in the opening stanza, the senior All-American turned the corner around the left pipe and buried a blast just below the crossbar to pull the Captains back within one.
Following one last goal by RMC in the first quarter, Christopher Newport found its rhythm in the second stanza. Trailing by two entering the period, the Captains quickly flipped the script and grabbed control of the contest. First, on the defensive side, Morrison hunted a Yellow Jacket for nearly 60 yards before unleashing a trail check to rip the ball away on a failed clear. Shortly thereafter,
Emma Jackson stripped an attacker on the inside before Iapicca pushed back against another player who continued to probe the defense along the eight-meter fan.
After Morrison sunk a one-hopper to cut the team's deficit down to one, the Captains were hit with a card but continued to shine. First, on the defensive side,
Maddie Rusinko won a race for a roller along the right sideline to kill off Randolph-Macon's early surge. Moments later, after clearing the ball, Winters flipped a feed down low to Morrison, who stung a shorthanded spinner into the back of the net.
Incredibly, that marked Morrison's second shorthanded goal of the season, becoming just the third player to have two in a single campaign. She joined Christopher Newport Hall of Famer Ashton Marshall and former great Becca Geist as the only Captains to accomplish that feat.
Back on even ground, the visitors wasted little time snatching their first lead of the game. Krause landed the go-ahead goal off a feed from Winters before Guidi broke down a defender during a one-on-one match-up on the way to her first goal. Shortly thereafter, Christopher Newport bottled up another clear attempt by the hosts and quickly generated a breakaway. Taking advantage of the unsettled situation, Winters dropped a rainbow to Iapicca, who torched the back of the cage for an 8-5 lead entering halftime.
Following the break, the Captains kept the momentum. Showing incredible hustle,
Hope Hunter battled through traffic to corral a loose ball that was dislodged near the end of the shot clock on the offensive side. With only moments left in the possession, she slipped the ball to Guidi, who bolted inside and drove home a dagger just before the clock expired.
Continuing the assault, Iapicca found Morrison streaking through traffic for a missile on the move. Later, the senior came back with a dart of her own after skipping a shot through the defense for an 11-5 lead.
After allowing eight straight goals, Randolph-Macon finally connected for the first time in nearly 30 minutes. Following a second straight strike by the hosts, Winters had an answer. Pushing back against the Yellow Jackets, she spun around a defender before lofting a floater to Iapicca, who caught the pass and laced an out-stretched seed into the net for a 12-7 lead entering the final stanza.
Looking for a little more breathing room, Iapicca connected with
Eleanor Collins early in the fourth before Winters sliced up the RMC defense. In the middle of the period, she handed out three straight assists. First, she dodged a defender at the top of the zone before finding Hunter, who ripped a rocket into the top right corner of the cage. Just over two minutes later, she dipped down and slipped a sidewinder past four defenders to Guidi, who converted along the right pipe.
Capping off her day, Winters used a series of dodges to spin her way around a defender behind the crease before finding Iapicca for the squad's 16th tally.
While Winters was wrapping up her afternoon, the defense was equally effective.
Taylor Schoolar made a great stop on a low liner, while
Riley Rafterry-Lee clamped down on a quick transition by the hosts after stealing a pass just a split second after it hit the turf. Later, Jackson battled through a screen to stick with a shooter at the top of the zone before
Madi Rozgonyi stayed in the face of a second attacker and prevented an attempt, which forced a shot clock violation.
With little left to prove, Guidi polished off the afternoon. Midway through the fourth quarter, she collected her 13th draw after battling through a scrum before collecting possession on a hard-fought victory. Then, in the waning moments, she came back with one last goal to cap off the contest.
Overall, Christopher Newport held a 37-16 advantage in shots, while Randolph-Macon secured a slim 16-14 edge in ground balls. Rafterry-Lee led the Captains with four rollers, while Morrison collected three. Between the pipes,
Hadley Chadwick earned the win while making three saves before Schoolar added a stop during the final 17 minutes.
Christopher Newport will return to action on April 12 when the team travels to St. Mary's (Md.) for a 4 p.m. contest.
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