SALISBURY, Md. -- Battling until the final horn, the fifth-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team could not quite overcome an early deficit as the Captains dropped a 3-1 decision to No. 2 Salisbury during a back-and-forth battle on Wednesday evening at Sea Gull Stadium.

After the hosts struck twice in the opening quarter, CNU dug in on the defensive side as Lily Kerr came through with a season-high seven stops, Brooke Billhimer notched her third defensive save of the year, and the back line blocked four other shots. Meanwhile, Riley Iasiello cut into the deficit with a third-quarter strike, but Salisbury survived to grab a win in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference clash.

Along with Iasiello's work on the offensive end, Courtney Hughlett recorded her eighth assist of the year, moving her to 13th on the program's all-time single-season charts. It was also her 14th career helper, tying current assistant coach and CNU Hall of Famer Marlene Lichty for the 15th-most in school history.

With the setback, Christopher Newport dropped to 9-1 on the season, while the victory bumped Salisbury to 12-1.
 
Early on, Christopher Newport had to contend with Salisbury's high-powered attack. Slowing down the Sea Gulls, Lainey Pratzner picked off an early surge along the right sideline before gobbling up a dangerous bouncer that skipped into the circle. Morgan Shealer also won a one-on-one duel with an attacker in the center of the turf, and Caroline Hughlett walled off a push along the right side of the arc.

Later in the period, the defense continued to stand tall against a relentless assault. Kerr made a diving save in traffic before Kendall Gibson recovered the rebound and ushered it out of the zone. Shortly thereafter, Shealer stayed on the hip of a Sea Gull who attempted to dribble the ball into the circle before controlling a bouncer that skipped inside the arc.

Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the field, the Captains generated a pair of early scoring opportunities. In the fifth minute, Maddison Steele ripped the ball right off the stick of a defender near midfield. Bolting the other way, she slipped free on a breakaway, but her first shot was snuffed out by the keeper before her follow-up was blocked by a trailing defender.

Moments later, Delaney Norr uncorked a no-look feed towards the center of the circle. Flanked by a pair of Sea Gulls, Gibson secured the pass and quickly drew a corner. Unfortunately, Katie Abendschoen's ensuing tracer was handled by Salisbury's back line.

After rebuffing CNU's advances, the hosts went back on the attack. Facing four straight SU corners, Kerr made a series of acrobatic stops, including a kick save in traffic and a slick deflection on a high hammer. However, Salisbury eventually converted on two late rallies to steal a 2-0 edge at the end of the first period.

With the momentum, the Sea Gulls looked to extend their lead early in the second stanza. Facing two more corner attempts, Kerr continued her masterpiece in the cage. The junior All-American made a sliding save on Salisbury's first opportunity before adding another stop from her knees on the second try.

Looking to flip the script, Christopher Newport went on the attack. Avery Mast scurried up the left side of the field, cut inside the circle, and unloaded a reverse rip that flew over the defense but just missed landing under the crossbar. Moments later, the Captains pieced together a fancy clear after Billhimer dropped low for a textbook tackle before Shealer controlled the outlet, spun around a second Sea Gull, and scampered up the right sideline. Hoping to capitalize, Julia Oleyar applied pressure on the interior, but the freshman was badgered by a phalanx of defenders.

Still holding a two-goal edge, Salisbury tried to extend its lead in the waning moments of the first half. The hosts collected back-to-back corners just before the clock expired. Refusing to back down, Iasiello avoided a screen and blocked a shot on the initial attempt before Gibson built a blockade along the right post and forced a rip to sail wide on the final try.

After the break, Christopher Newport was hit with an early card and played shorthanded for a two-minute stretch. Despite the tenuous situation, the visitors continued to star on the defensive side. Pratzner blocked an initial surge up the right sideline before Courtney Hughlett cleaned up a roller that snuck inside the arc. Moments later, Abendschoen added a tackle at the top of the zone and cleared the ball to Shealer, who helped kill off the card with some solid work along the right boundary.

Still facing pressure, the Captains batted away another corner in the 36th minute after Caroline Hughlett deflected an initial rope at the edge of the arc before Abendschoen collected the rebound along the right post.

With time winding down in the third quarter, Christopher Newport picked up the pace on the offensive side. Headlining the attack, Ellie Nuckols was a menace on the inside. The second-year stalwart settled a long rip by Pratzner and generated a corner with a rush on the interior. On the ensuing attempt, she inserted the ball to Abendschoen but saw the return feed just skip past the right pipe.

Still working on the inside, Nuckols flashed her speed while recovering a pass that nearly slipped out-of-bounds. Eventually, that hustle led to three more corners, including a successful conversion in the 43rd minute.

Inserting the ball from the end line, Nuckols connected with Billhimer, who shuffled a pass over to Courtney Hughlett. Before the defense could make a play on the ball, the sophomore star redirected it towards the center of the zone. On the inside, Iasiello capped off the action after lifting a shot over the defense for her second goal of the season.

Hoping to steal back some momentum, Salisbury tried to regroup in the fourth quarter, but the Captains held firm on the back end. Courtney Hughlett picked the pockets of an attacker at the top of the circle, while Billhimer stymied a rush along the right baseline. Later, Abendschoen grabbed possession and threaded a 40-yard feed past six Sea Gulls. Eventually, the ball landed on Iasiello's stick as she and Norr slipped free on a 2-on-1 breakaway.

Although the Sea Gulls managed to quiet the initial push, Christopher Newport took advantage of the pressure and earned two straight corners. Unfortunately, the Captains came away empty-handed as Salisbury brushed aside both attempts before immediately answering on the other end of the field for a late 3-1 edge.

Trying to respond, Abendschoen had an on-target tracer kicked away by the keeper, while Courtney Hughlett had a bullet blocked by the defense.

Meanwhile, on the defensive end, Nuckols wrestled possession away from two Sea Gulls along the right sideline, Gibson deflected a shot on the interior, and Courtney Hughlett got her stick on a second screamer after a successful turn as the flyer on a corner in the 57th minute. Sadly, the Captains could not quite flip the field as Salisbury closed out the victory.

Overall, the Sea Gulls held a 15-12 advantage in shots and a 10-9 edge in corners.

Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday when the Captains host No. 18 SUNY New Paltz at 11 a.m.

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