NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Overcoming the squad's first deficit of the season, the ninth-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team capitalized on a pair of second-half darts and a 60-minute masterpiece by the defensive unit as the Captains upended No. 20 Catholic, 2-1, during a nationally-ranked battle on a warm Wednesday evening at Jennings Family Stadium.

After Catholic stole a lead with a goal in the 17th minute, CNU stormed back with an epic assault in the second half. Maddison Steele landed the equalizer midway through the third quarter before Lindsey Loar added the final blow in the 53rd minute to cap off the comeback. With her game-winning rocket, Loar found the back of the cage for the second straight contest and the fourth time in her first six collegiate appearances. That stands as the highest total by a freshman through six games since Anne Gehring deposited six tallies in her first six outings in 2005.

Meanwhile, on the defensive side, the Captains set the tone early and controlled possession throughout the contest. Despite allowing a goal in the second quarter, CNU limited the opposition to only two shots while preventing the Cardinals from generating any real scoring opportunities after their early strike.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improved to 6-0 on the season, while the setback dropped Catholic to 4-2.

From the outset, CNU threw a blanket over the field and stonewalled Catholic's early advances. In the opening period, Chloe Thompson picked off a roller along the left sideline before Katie Abendschoen made her presence felt. The junior juggernaut built a blockade in the center of the field and disrupted a rally in the fifth minute before ripping away a deep push in the middle of the stanza.

Later, after Catholic's keeper brushed aside an on-target blast by Caroline Hughlett, the visitors nearly sprung a breakaway going in the opposite direction. Standing tall against the threat, Brooke Billhimer held her ground and swiped possession away just beyond midfield to slam the door on the Cardinals' final surge of the period.

Still scoreless entering the second frame, the visitors broke the deadlock with a rainbow over the defense off a corner in the 17th minute. Trailing for the first time all year, the Captains regrouped and kept the deficit at one.

Pushing back on the offensive end, Christopher Newport secured back-to-back corners, but a pair of lasers by Alexis Morales were turned away. Keeping the pressure on, Thompson and Avi McWhorter thwarted a series of clear attempts along the right sideline as the attack continued to poke at Catholic's back line.

In the middle of the period, Billhimer stopped another surge and helped generate a breakaway by Steele, but her ensuing shot just spun past the right post. Moments later, pressure by Morales and Abby Asuncion earned a corner and stroke in the span of 10 seconds, but the Cardinals held up against the onslaught and carried their one-goal lead into the second half.

Following the break, CNU continued to excel on both ends of the field. Holding up against Catholic's advances, Abendschoen and Courtney Hughlett intercepted feeds near midfield, while Kendall Gibson stamped out a long hit after a failed corner.

Meanwhile, on the offensive end, Delaney Norr barreled inside and had a look along the left post, but a defender quickly subdued the rally. Later, Asuncion had a rope kicked away by the keeper before the Captains were hit with a card.

Playing shorthanded, CNU shrugged off the situation and went right back to work. After Lainey Pratzner cleared out a tough bouncer into the circle midway through the period, she came back with another interception near the 50 while winning a fight with a pair of Cardinals. Eventually, the third-year star connected with Steele, who outran two defenders while circling the top of the arc.

With Loar and Ellie Nuckols drawing the attention of two defenders along each post, Steele curled to her right and had a clear shooting lane. Taking advantage of the situation, the junior spun a screamer into the back of the cage to even the score at one.

Although Catholic tried to retaliate, the Captains refused to let the momentum slip out of their grasp. Shortly after the goal, Billhimer was glued to an attacker who attempted to wiggle free on a sprint to the left post. Later, Thompson snatched a feed along the right edge of the arc before Nuckols picked the pockets of an attacker with a gorgeous tackle to keep the Cardinals at bay entering the final frame.

Still attempting to respond early in the fourth quarter, the visitors had trouble breaking through. Caroline Hughlett tracked down an attacker and stole possession from behind before Thompson dipped low and broke up a dangerous rally while flipping a Cardinal to the turf.

After withstanding Catholic's initial surge, Christopher Newport shot back. Preventing a clear attempt up the right sideline, Caroline Hughlett grabbed control of a roller and fired a 30-yard seed up the field. Kick-starting a rally, Nuckols had an early push turned aside before Courtney Hughlett stripped a defender and ripped another on-target rocket.

Although Hughlett's shot was punted away by the goalie, Loar was there to grab the rebound. After settling the bouncer, she pushed up the right side of the circle, pulled away from a pair of defenders, and sniped a spinner past the keeper for the go-ahead tally.

Immediately after the restart, Courtney Hughlett gained possession, and the Captains never looked back. The hosts kept the ball planted on the offensive side of the field while cutting crucial time off the clock. Later, after the Cardinals finally possessed the ball and tested CNU's defense, Thompson won a battle with two players and sliced a feed up the right sideline to kill off the threat.

With time winding down, Asuncion had two strips along midfield, while Gibson ripped one away along the left sideline to help stymie Catholic's final surge.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 24-2 advantage in shots and a 6-1 edge in corners. Meanwhile, Lily Kerr earned the win for the Captains, while Abigail Kearney pocketed 11 saves for the Cardinals.

CNU will return to action on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. when the squad faces another top-20 test at No. 17 Bryn Mawr.

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