NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Erupting for four goals in the first quarter, the fifth-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as the Captains cruised past No. 18 New Paltz, 4-2, during a nationally-ranked thriller on Saturday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.
Striking early,
Courtney Hughlett scored just 63 seconds into regulation before
Avery Mast,
Caroline Hughlett, and
Ellie Nuckols piled on over the next 11 minutes. The four first-quarter goals equaled the program's second-highest output in a single stanza since the NCAA switched to 15-minute periods. It also tied CNU's top effort in the opening frame, matching an identical four-goal surge against Virginia Wesleyan on September 6, 2022.
The four goals also equaled the program's highest single-game total against a nationally-ranked opponent since a 6-0 win over No. 20 Johns Hopkins on September 25, 2011.
Although the offense stole the show in the early going, the defense was equally impressive during the 60-minute battle. Facing the nation's second-ranked scoring offense, which entered Saturday averaging 5.15 goals per game, Christopher Newport held strong against the high-powered New Paltz attack.
Lily Kerr came through with nine saves, which equaled the fourth-highest total of her All-American career.
With that performance, Kerr also became just the fifth Captain to record 150 career stops, joining fellow All-American Bailey Lien and longtime standouts Elizabeth Werbiskis, Emma Stout, and Olivia Davis. Her 157 total saves now rank fourth on the program's all-time charts.
In addition to Kerr's masterpiece,
Kendall Gibson and
Brooke Billhimer both added defensive saves. Billhimer's stop was the 12th of her career, moving her into sole possession of fourth-place on the program's all-time charts. Meanwhile, Gibson also blocked a shot in the fourth quarter, while
Lainey Pratzner and
Courtney Hughlett added deflections as well.
With the victory, Christopher Newport improved to 10-1 on the season, while the setback dropped New Paltz to 12-2.
Setting the tone from the very beginning,
Riley Iasiello disrupted an early clear attempt up the left sideline before
Katie Abendschoen picked off a pass, sidestepped a defender, and laced a feed to
Courtney Hughlett, who was settled in the center of the zone. After grabbing possession, the second-year star fired an absolute screamer inside the left post for an immediate 1-0 advantage.
Less than a minute later, Abendschoen came back with another interception before barreling into the circle while drawing a corner. On the ensuing play, Abendschoen lofted a rainbow towards the cage, which forced the goalie to leave her feet while elevating for an initial save. Taking advantage, Mast cut in from the baseline, grabbed the rebound, and landed a high-rising rocket over the defense for a 2-0 edge.
Although the Hawks attempted to retaliate, Kerr stoned the squad's first shot-on-goal, while Pratzner deflected a rip on the right side of the circle.
Meanwhile, Christopher Newport continued its work on the other end of the turf. Billhimer flipped the field with a 30-yard missile that landed on Abendschoen's stick. Eventually, the senior standout connected with
Caroline Hughlett, who popped a knuckler over the keeper that was mishandled by a defender between the pipes, which earned a penalty stroke.
Capitalizing on her own efforts, Hughlett took the free shot and launched a blast inside the left post for her third stroke of the year. With that performance, she became just the fifth Captain to record at least three in a single season, joining Marcella Sabbagh, Sarah Wister, Lauren Cherry, and Alexa Weaver.
Fostering a three-goal lead, the Captains came back for more in the 13th minute. Off a corner, Nuckols inserted the ball to Abendschoen, who tossed a short feed to
Courtney Hughlett. Drawing the attention of two defenders on the left side of the arc, she fired a seed towards the middle of the zone. Stationed on the inside, Billhimer redirected the ball past two more Hawks and the goalie. Fittingly, Nuckols was there to finish what she started as the sophomore landed the final blow along the left post for her second goal of the year.
Holding a 4-0 lead entering the second quarter, the defense took over.
Morgan Shealer came racing up the field to break up a pass near the right sideline on New Paltz's first rush of the period. Later, Billhimer won control of an aerial, while Abendschoen broke up a clear on the left boundary.
Although the visitors eventually worked their way into the circle, the Captains continued to clamp down.
Caroline Hughlett knocked down a hot rocket just inside the arc, while Billhimer stole the ball from an attacker along the right post. Later, after New Paltz picked up a corner, Abendschoen disrupted a pass near the top of the circle before Gibson escorted an errant shot out of bounds.
Still applying pressure, the Hawks eventually broke through in the 23rd minute. Looking to respond, CNU generated a series of solid looks in the middle of the period.
Delaney Norr had a deep run bottled up at the last second, while Mast showed incredible speed to split two defenders while stealing a pass and drawing a corner. Moments later,
Emily Evans found some space and tried to redirect a long rope that just skipped past the left pipe.
Although the offense came away empty-handed, Christopher Newport's back line continued to quiet the visitors. Near the end of the period, New Paltz orchestrated a dangerous counterstrike after a failed corner by CNU. Slipping free on a breakaway, a Hawk bolted down the field. Making up ground,
Sierra Pratzner hustled back and took away a passing lane while forcing the streaker directly into Kerr, who made a sliding stop to cut off the rush.
Following the break, New Paltz inched closer after converting on a second-chance opportunity in the 33rd minute. Trying to retaliate,
Maddison Steele had a slick run along the right baseline, while
Caroline Hughlett had a subsequent surge along the left side. Both rallies eventually ended in corner attempts, but the Hawks handled both tries.
Moments later, Abendschoen hammered a ball through a crowd, which sprung a breakaway. On the receiving end, Norr outran two defenders while sprinting up the left side of the field. Unfortunately, the goalie came out of the cage and stamped out the threat with a physical altercation along the left post.
After withstanding CNU's mid-quarter onslaught, New Paltz collected three late corners. On the initial try, Kerr stoned a slam with another sliding save. Although the Hawks recovered the ball and fired a second attempt, Gibson boxed out an attacker near the right post before pinning the shot against the pipe for a huge defensive save.
On the second corner, Nuckols came bursting out of the cage and forced an off-target shot to spin wide before Billhimer showed great stick skills to pluck a roller off the turf and dribble it out of harm's way on the final attempt.
In the fourth period, Kerr continued her showcase. New Paltz picked up a penalty stroke in the 47th minute, but the junior goalie made a sprawling, outstretched stop with her pad to brush aside the rip. Moments later, she added a diving save on a low liner to kill off another threat.
Following Kerr's heroics, the rest of the defense stepped up to close out the contest. Serving as the flyer,
Caroline Hughlett caused a shot to sail wide off an early corner. Later, Gibson blocked a blast after standing up an attacker near the right post. Then,
Courtney Hughlett got in front of a turnaround tracer in the center of the zone to stymie the final threat by New Paltz.
With the clock becoming a friend,
Caroline Hughlett dribbled the ball into the left corner to cut off time before Abendschoen took over, weaved through multiple defenders, and helped kill off the final few moments to ice the victory.
Overall, CNU held a 32-21 advantage in shots and a 17-9 lead in penalty corners.
Christopher Newport will return to action on Monday at 10 a.m. when the squad faces Rhodes in a neutral-site battle at Roanoke.
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