BRIDGEWATER, Va. -- Katie Abendschoen registered her second career multi-goal effort, while Abby Asuncion continued her climb up the program's all-time scoring charts as the 11th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team upended Bridgewater, 4-0, on Wednesday afternoon at the Jopson Athletic Complex.

Headlining the attack, Asuncion tied CNU's all-time goals record after depositing the 41st strike of her award-winning tenure. That matched the school standard originally set by Christopher Newport Hall of Famer Wendy Wilson from 2000-02. Later, it was equaled by longtime legend Ashley Traylor (2005-07) and fellow Hall of Famer Belle Tunstall (2011-14).

Her strike also marked the 100th point of her career, placing her alongside Wilson and Tunstall as the only Captains to reach that benchmark. Additionally, Asuncion's tally was her 12th career game-winning goal, just one shy of matching the program record established by Christopher Newport Hall of Famer Caitlin Cahill from 2009-12.

While Asuncion was rewriting the history books, Abendschoen added a pair of darts. That marked her first multi-goal effort since she erupted for five points in her collegiate debut on September 1, 2021. Courtney Hughlett also scored for the second straight game with a highlight-reel run in the fourth quarter.

On the other side of the field, Christopher Newport limited Bridgewater to only four shots. Lily Kerr made a pair of saves, Ella Fallen added one, and Brooke Billhimer deflected a rip off a corner in the final stanza to help quiet the BC attack.

With the victory, CNU improved to 4-0 on the season, while the setback dropped Bridgewater to 2-2.

Right from the start, Christopher Newport set the tone with consistent offensive pressure. Just moments into the contest, Alexis Morales took control near the arc and sliced a pass inside to Lindsey Loar. Cutting towards the cage, the freshman made a slick move to beat the keeper, but her shot was turned away by a defender at the last moment.

Continuing the rally, the visitors earned a corner, but Asuncion's ensuing shot was deflected by an Eagle. Shortly thereafter, the Captains secured a second corner, but Abendschoen and Hughlett had on-target blasts turned away by the goalie.

Although Bridgewater's back line held up against the early assault, the hosts struggled to orchestrate a counter offensive. On an initial push by the hosts, Caroline Hughlett ripped possession away near the 25 before Asuncion stole a pass at midfield. Minutes later, Chloe Thompson had a clean tackle along the left sideline before Abendschoen won a duel with an Eagle in the right corner. Lainey Pratzner and Kendall Gibson also smothered a pair of rallies to keep the opposition in check.

After Emily Evans worked her way up the field with six minutes left in the opening period, the offense regained its footing and went to work again. The Captains picked up three more corners, but Abendschoen had a pair of daggers turned away by the goalie, while Morales had a follow-up attempt slip wide.

With momentum building, Christopher Newport finally broke through in the 13th minute. After gaining possession, Morales lofted an aerial over four defenders. After the ball found its way back down to the turf, Asuncion took control and motored towards the circle. Sidestepping a defender at the top of the arc, she wiggled free and unloaded a high-rising rocket into the top right corner of the cage for the game's opening tally. 

Staring at a 1-0 deficit entering the second period, Bridgewater attempted to respond but had little luck cracking Christopher Newport's daunting defensive unit. Early on, Billhimer intercepted an aerial and won a duel near midfield. Shortly thereafter, Asuncion picked off a feed with a lunging tackle before Joelie Erwin jumped a passing lane to prevent a clear along the offensive 25.

Moments later, the Eagles orchestrated a dangerous rally after firing a knuckler into the circle. After an attacker settled the bouncer, Kerr made a diving play to block off the right post. Still facing a threat, Morales and Thompson helped seal off the cage to keep the opposition off the scoreboard.

After clearing the defensive end, CNU countered on the opposite side. Generating a scoring opportunity, Courtney Hughlett picked off a pass and weaved around a pair of Eagles on a sprint to the end line. Still facing a blockade, she sliced a feed through two more defenders. On the receiving end, Loar took control and pounded an attempt towards the right post. Although her shot was kicked aside by a defender, the rally generated a penalty stroke.

Taking the free shot, Abendschoen collected her first goal of the year after planting a seed inside the left pipe for a 2-0 lead at the end of the first half.

Holding a slim advantage, Christopher Newport put the game out-of-reach with an explosive surge early in the third stanza. Following a penalty corner, Loar and Courtney Hughlett both had on-target blasts turned away by the goalie. Sticking with the play, Caroline Hughlett recovered the second rebound. Showing incredible poise during the rapid-fire assault, she settled the ball and cracked it between two defenders and the goalie. On the other side, Abendschoen took the feed and cleaned up along the left pipe for her second straight tally.

Less than a minute later, Courtney Hughlett settled into an open space in the left corner. After collecting a pass from Thompson nearly 15 yards from the goal, the first-year phenom did the rest by herself. She ducked underneath an initial defender along the end line. After blowing past a second Eagle, she pulled the ball to her right, cleared the keeper, and fired a laser into the cage for the squad's fourth and final goal.

With a 4-0 advantage, Christopher Newport's defense closed out the contest. At the tail end of the third quarter, Avi McWhorter stole an aerial before Billhimer ran stride-for-stride with an Eagle who attempted to slip free on a lengthy sprint up the right sideline. Later, the hosts earned four straight corners, but Ellie Nuckols did phenomenal work as the flyer to apply immediate pressure at the edge of the circle, while Kerr cleaned up on the inside.

Looking to complete the shutout in the fourth quarter, the Captains controlled possession in the early part of the stanza. McWhorter bottled up three separate clear attempts along the left sideline to prevent the Eagles from generating a scoring opportunity. Although Bridgewater eventually found some space later in the period, Christopher Newport never relented.

Fallen knocked down a high bullet to stonewall an initial rush. Later, CNU handled back-to-back corner attempts to quiet Bridgewater's final threat. On the first try, Billhimer deflected a shot and won a battle for possession on the left side of the circle. Then, on the final surge, Asuncion raced out to the top of the arc and ripped the ball away from an Eagle before a shot could be taken.

Overall, Christopher Newport held an 18-4 advantage in shots, while both squads had six corner attempts.

The Captains will return to action on Saturday when the squad welcomes St. Mary's (Md.) to town at 11:30 a.m.

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