NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Orchestrating a pair of epic performances on both ends of the field, the 15th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team kicked off the 2023 campaign with a well-balanced victory as the Captains took down Swarthmore, 3-0, on a warm Friday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.

During the contest, Lily Kerr posted 12 saves, including four in the opening moments of regulation to slam the door on a dangerous rally by the Garnet. Her 12 stops marked the second-highest total of her award-winning career, falling just one shy of matching her 13-save masterpiece against Shenandoah on October 12, 2022.

On the opposite end of the field, Alexis Morales established a new career-high with three assists after playing a role in each of the squad's successful scoring opportunities. Her three helpers equaled the fourth-highest total in program history and matched the finest effort by a Captain since Christopher Newport Hall of Famer Belle Tunstall handed out five in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Gwynedd-Mercy on November 7, 2012.

Taking advantage of Morales' work, Delaney Norr opened the scoring in the second quarter, while Emily Evans and Lindsey Loar added strikes after halftime.

Making some history on Friday, Loar was one of five freshmen to start against Swarthmore. Incredibly, that equaled the most first-year players to start a season opener in program history, matching the legendary 2005 Captains.

Incidentally, the two youthful squads have a unique connection. The 2005 freshmen opened their careers against Catawba on September 3, 2005. Less than 24 hours before that game began, Ellie Nuckols - one of Friday's freshman starters - was born.

Along with Loar and Nuckols, fellow first-year phenoms Kendall Gibson, Caroline Hughlett, and Courtney Hughlett all cracked the lineup as well. Additionally, freshman Avi McWhorter played significant minutes off the bench and helped anchor a defensive unit that blanked Swarthmore's high-powered attack.

Equally impressive on the back line, Brooke Billhimer added her name to the history books. The reigning National Defensive Player of the Year played all 60 minutes while stomping out multiple threats by the Garnet. Coupled with her run at the end of the 2022 campaign, she has now played 1,020 consecutive minutes without missing a second of action. She is just the seventh player in program history to play 1,000 consecutive minutes, joining Christopher Newport Hall of Famer Kim Tomlin, former All-Americans Brittan Muir and Brianna Milne, and longtime legends Shelby Judkins, Courtney Russ, and Alexa Hendrickson.

Bringing things full circle, Russ was one of the five historic freshmen who started the opener in 2005, joining Lynsi Matthews, Lenora Harper, Anne Gehring, and Casey Ellis.

In the early going on Friday, the Garnet put pressure on Christopher Newport's back line. Featuring an explosive offense and a veteran contingent of 10 upperclassmen, Swarthmore made a run at an early goal, but Kerr was up to the challenge. The second-year sensation stonewalled the initial rush with four saves, including an incredible sliding stop to wipe away a rope towards the right post.

Later, the Captains fired back. Caroline Hughlett pieced together a threatening rush on the offensive end, but the ball just spun past the post. Keeping the pressure on, the hosts secured a corner, but the Garnet handled the attempt.

Still pushing, Katie Abendschoen picked off an errant feed and weaved her way through a crowd of midfielders while working her way back into the offensive end. Trying to capitalize on the possession, Courtney Hughlett battled through contact on the inside and nearly wiggled free, but Swarthmore's back line was able to close off the run.

Continuing the seesaw affair, the visitors fired back towards the end of the opening period. Fortunately, CNU's defense was up to the task again. Billhimer punched away a long feed down the left sideline before Abendschoen jumped another passing lane to regain possession and help eliminate a separate threat.

In the second stanza, the Captains unloaded on Swarthmore's defense. Blistering the back line, the Captains had six on-target rips turned away in the first six minutes, including back-to-back blasts by Morales and Loar following a penalty corner. Moments later, after securing two more corners, Morales and Nuckols both had rips brushed aside to keep the game scoreless entering the 23rd minute.

Later, after flipping the field, the Garnet orchestrated their finest run of the period. Pushing back, Gibson made a nice tackle along the arc to prevent an initial push before blocking a shot inside the circle. After the visitors secured a corner, Morales applied pressure to the shooter before Kerr made two straight saves from her back. Eventually, Billhimer recovered the rebound and knocked it out of the zone to slow down the attack.

After surviving the scare, Christopher Newport broke through on the offensive end in the final minute of the first half. Swiping possession away near the 25, Morales pushed into the circle and drilled a screamer towards the right pipe. Settling in front of the keeper, Norr screened the goalie and deflected the shot inside the post to give the team a 1-0 lead.

Looking to respond after halftime, Swarthmore tried to counter Christopher Newport's opening goal but struggled to find an opening. Abendschoen won a one-on-one battle with an attacker in the right corner before Billhimer intercepted a centering feed and backed her way out of the circle. Later, a player attempted to sneak inside along the end line, but Chloe Thompson was glued to her hip and forced an errant pass, which Billhimer quickly corralled.

Still pushing in the middle of the period, the Garnet secured a corner in the 38th minute, but Kerr kicked away the first attempt before Lainey Pratzner blocked the rebound to keep the shutout intact.

Retaliating on the other end, Caroline Hughlett picked off a clear attempt near midfield and pushed the other way. Settling in on the offensive side, Morales gained possession and wrapped her way through a horde of defenders before finding a little daylight. Unleashing another rocket, the senior smoked a spinner towards the cage. In a perfect position, Evans was stationed just behind the keeper and deflected the shot into open spaces for her first strike of the year.

After getting on the board, Evans showed off her defensive chops as well. Preventing a last-ditch rally by the visitors, the second-year star made a diving stop to block a pass at the end of the period that sustained the 2-0 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Swarthmore nearly cracked the scoreboard with a breakaway in the 48th minute. After a ball bounced free and landed at the feet of an attacker along the left sideline, she burst up the field and slipped a perfect pass down low to a teammate.

Facing a one-on-one situation, Kerr took over. Dancing on the doorstep, she showed incredible athleticism and footwork. After the attacker pulled to her right, Kerr blocked the rally with a sprawling stop while diving to the turf. Although Swarthmore kept possession, the sophomore made a lunging save to break up a second push before kicking the ball away.

Catching up to the action, McWhorter bullied her way through two players and punched the ball into the left corner to help close out the surge.

Following another save by Kerr on a high-rising rocket from the top of the arc, Christopher Newport cleared the zone. After flipping the field, the Captains landed one final blow on the offensive side. Adding some cushion off a corner attempt, Pratzner inserted the ball to Morales, who stopped the feed and rifled a pass inside to Loar. Polishing off the contest, the freshman deflected the ball in mid-air for her first collegiate goal.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 22-16 lead in shots and a 10-4 edge in corners.

The Captains will return to action on Sunday when the squad hosts No. 19 Franklin & Marshall in a nationally-ranked battle beginning at 11 a.m.

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