NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Capitalizing on a historic assault, the 9th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team posted a resounding 10-0 victory over Virginia Wesleyan during a non-conference battle on a muggy Monday evening at Jennings Family Stadium.

Headlining the attack, Emily Evans and Lindsey Loar recorded three goals apiece. With that performance, they became just the second set of teammates to post hat-tricks in the same game, joining Kelsey Clark and Meghan Sullivan, who had three-goal efforts in a win over Wilson on October 23, 2013.

Evans' hat-trick was the second of her career after she previously snapped off three strikes against Concordia (Wisc.) on September 11, 2022. With her second eruption, she became just the seventh Captain with multiple hat-tricks in program history. She added her name alongside CNU Hall of Famer Wendy Wilson, current teammate Abby Asuncion, and former luminaries Ashley Traylor, Kelsey Clark, Lauren Cheatham, and Megan McCreedy.

Loar also joined an exclusive club with her performance on Monday. She became the sixth true freshman in school history to land a hat-trick, joining Evans and Asuncion as well as Brittney Touchard, Lauren Cheatham, and Ashley Hay.

Meanwhile, Loar now has seven goals this season, which stands as the sixth-highest total by a first-year competitor in program lore.

Adding her name to the history books as well, Maddison Steele handed out three assists, which tied the fourth-highest total by a Captain. Additionally, Caroline Hughlett contributed her fifth helper of the season, equaling the third-most by a freshman in school history. Through just eight games, she only trails All-American Courtney Fiest's 11 assists in 2017 and former standout Samantha Howard's nine helpers in 2004.

Overall, Christopher Newport's 10 goals tied the fifth-most in program history and equaled the highest total since a 13-0 win over Wilson on October 23, 2013. Meanwhile, the squad's 10 helpers marked the second-most in a game, trailing only a 12-assist showcase at Trinity (D.C.) on September 28, 2001.

With the victory, CNU improved to 8-0 on the season, while the setback dropped Virginia Wesleyan to 3-4.

Similar to their early surge against No. 17 Bryn Mawr on Saturday, the Captains bolted out to a fast start. Less than two minutes into regulation, Asuncion hammered a rocket towards the left post. On the receiving end, Loar settled the missile and squeaked it between the goalie and the pipe for the game's opening tally.

Less than a minute later, Steele kicked off her evening with a slick feed across the mouth of the cage to Loar, who smacked home her second straight strike along the left post.

Meanwhile, on the defensive side, Christopher Newport pushed back against all of Virginia Wesleyan's early advances. Building a wall from sideline to sideline, Brooke Billhimer picked off a long feed in the center of the field, Courtney Hughlett added a blockade around the 25, and Alexis Morales and Kendall Gibson ripped possession away on the boundaries. Later, after the Marlins snuck into the circle, Avi McWhorter prevented an initial attempt before Lily Kerr made a kick save along the right pipe to keep the opposition off the board.

Although Virginia Wesleyan continued to push forward, Gibson and Chloe Thompson slammed the door on the left side of the field before shipping the ball back to the attack.

After starring on the defensive side, the Captains added their third goal of the opening period with a strike off a penalty corner. In the 12th minute, Evans inserted the ball to Asuncion before curling towards the left post. In a flash, she wrapped up what she started with a deflection off the return feed to snatch a 3-0 lead.

With her assist on that play, Asuncion became just the fifth Captain to record 20 career helpers, joining CNU Hall of Famer Belle Tunstall and former legends Haylie Black, Courtney Fiest, and Kylie Cale.

Holding a 3-0 lead entering the second quarter, Christopher Newport continued to set the tone. Although the Marlins held up against eight straight shots to begin the period, the visitors could not muster a response on the other end. Midway through the stanza, Virginia Wesleyan finally orchestrated a deep push, but Thompson swiped possession near the 25, battled through three midfielders, and cleared the defensive zone.

Shortly thereafter, the Captains struck again on the offensive side. Staring at a wall of defenders, Ellie Nuckols spun around and chipped a perfectly placed pass through five Marlins. Taking advantage of the pinpoint feed, Evans connected along the right post to grab a 4-0 edge entering halftime.

In the third quarter, Nuckols showed off her diverse skill set with an excellent defensive play to break up a dangerous threat by the visitors. Early in the second half, the Marlins slipped free with numbers on their side. Orchestrating a breakaway up the left sideline, Virginia Wesleyan had a chance to strike, but Nuckols raced back, caught up to the play, and won a fight in the corner to clamp down on the surge.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Christopher Newport continued to stretch its lead. Early on, Morales drove up the right sideline, chipped the ball past a defender, and sent a feed inside to Delaney Norr, who uncorked a backhand along the right pipe. 

Minutes later, Steele beat two defenders along the end line before launching a blast that deflected off the keeper and spiraled towards the crossbar. On the opposite side of the goalie, Loar was there to clean up the play as she batted the rainbow out of the air for her third tally of the contest.

Continuing to torment the visitors, Steele came back with another helper in the waning moments of the period. With a Marlin draped on her back, she broke out a no-look feed to Nuckols, who split a pair of diving defenders with a rip from the right side of the circle to secure a 7-0 lead entering the last 15 minutes.

In the final frame, CNU continued to attack. In the 48th minute, Morales cracked a screamer through three Marlins along the end line. Settling the pass near the post, Norr spun to her left and drove a rocket into the smallest window between the goalie and a defender for her second tally of the contest.

Less than three minutes later, Evans polished off her evening with Christopher Newport's ninth strike. On the play, Kendall Gibson showed off fantastic vision as she found an alley between four defenders. Slipping the feed through the lane, she connected with Evans, who pounded her third goal of the game.

Looking to respond, Virginia Wesleyan put together its longest offensive surge of the second half, but CNU continued to hold strong. Lainey Pratzner blocked an attempt before the Marlins earned a corner. Pushing back, Asuncion and McWhorter applied pressure at the top of the zone before Thompson escorted the ensuing shot past the right post to kill off the play.

Keeping a lid on subsequent rallies, Loar ripped the ball away and pushed it up the left sideline before Caroline Hughlett intercepted a centering feed at the top of the arc. Later, Joelie Erwin broke up a long roller near the end of regulation before Katie Abendschoen cleared it up the field.

With little left to prove, Christopher Newport added one final dagger. Caroline Hughlett smacked a ball inside to Morales, who tattooed the back of the cage with an absolute scorcher to cap off the double-digit victory.

Overall, CNU held a 48-3 advantage in shots and a 10-1 edge in corners. Along with Kerr's save in the first half, Ella Fallen was perfect over the final 30 minutes to help polish off the shutout.

The Captains will return to action on Saturday in Winchester, Virginia when the squad battles No. 12 Kean in a neutral-site tilt beginning at 5 p.m.

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