NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- After jumping out to an early advantage, the fifth-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team never looked back as the Captains cruised past Centre, 5-0, during a non-conference battle on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.

Headlining the attack, Maddison Steele posted a career-high five points, including her second multi-goal effort of the year. Freshman Morgan Shealer also added her first two collegiate goals, while Courtney Hughlett helped pace the attack with a pair of assists.

Capping off the scoring, Emily Evans punctuated the contest with her 20th career goal in the 54th minute. One of the most efficient shooters in program history, Evans reached that milestone on just her 77th career shot. With that performance, she became just the fourth Captain to collect 20 goals in fewer than 80 attempts, joining former legends Shelby Judkins (54 shots), Diana Golden (69), and Ashley Traylor (73).

Along with Evans, Brooke Billhimer and Katie Abendschoen also made history on Saturday. The senior standouts both started their 64th consecutive game, moving past current assistant coach and CNU Hall of Famer Marlene Lichty for the second-longest "Iron Man" streak in program history.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improved to 8-0 on the season, while the setback dropped Centre to 4-6.

Unloading on the Colonels from the very beginning, the Captains snatched a fast 1-0 lead with a strike in the fifth minute. After securing a corner, Abendschoen settled the insert and punched a knuckler towards the cage. Although the defense deflected the initial blast, Billhimer made a diving stop to corral the rebound.

Taking advantage of the hustle, Riley Iasiello secured the bouncer and punched it around the keeper. On the back end, Shealer polished off the play with a dart on the doorstep for her first collegiate goal.

Staring at an early deficit, the Colonels attempted to respond but had little success breaking through CNU's back line. During an early run, Shealer ripped the ball away from an attacker along the right sideline. Shortly thereafter, Caroline Hughlett intercepted a pass while flanked by three midfielders before Kendall Gibson sealed off the left corner after staying on the hip of a Colonel that slipped free on a lengthy run up the sideline.

After handing the ball back to the attack, Christopher Newport kept it planted on the offensive end for the rest of the opening stanza. Evans flashed some fancy stickwork to kill off a clear before Lainey Pratzner gobbled up an errant feed while pinned to the right sideline.

Looking to capitalize, Steele scooted into the circle and handed possession to Delaney Norr, who immediately drew a corner after getting fouled along the baseline.

With a last-second opportunity, Norr inserted the ball to Abendschoen, who whipped a one-timer from the top of the circle. Eventually, the ball squirted to Steele, who rifled a low liner past the keeper for a 2-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

In the second period, Christopher Newport kept the pressure on Centre's defensive unit. Early on, Julia Oleyar carved up the Colonels with a fantastic surge. First, she showed pinpoint precision after sending a perfect pass to Norr, who had an attempt broken up at the last minute. Then, Oleyar blasted a seed towards the cage, but the keeper made a diving stop to knock the ball away with an outstretched stick.

Still marching forward, Norr had a tip just skip past the right post, while Avery Mast had an interception near midfield before embarking on a 40-yard sprint into the circle. After torching multiple defenders, she had a solid look inside the arc, but her ensuing shot was blocked by the last possible Colonel, which prevented a highlight-reel tally.

Although Centre held up against the assault in the early part of the period, the hosts finally struck again in the final minute of the first half. 

Setting up the strike, Evans applied pressure in the right corner on a failed clear. Eventually, Courtney Hughlett picked off the errant pass and flipped it to Steele, who was stationed at the top of the circle. With a little room to work, the senior sensation unleashed a reverse rocket inside the right post, which gave Christopher Newport a 3-0 edge entering the break.

With a healthy advantage, the Captains put their defense on display in the third quarter. On an early push by the visitors, Shealer locked down the right corner before Oleyar intercepted a blast at the top of the arc. Moments later, Billhimer blocked a bouncer that slipped into the circle before clearing the zone with a run up the right boundary.

Although the Colonels continued to march forward, they could not crack CNU's suffocating defensive unit. Gibson bottled up a surge in the left corner, while Shealer swiped possession from an attacker along the defensive 25. Meanwhile, Ellie Nuckols pieced together a tremendous clear up the right sideline as the sophomore used two aerials and a ground-level laser to flip the field and cap off a scoreless third period.

Still fostering a 3-0 lead, Christopher Newport extended its edge early in the fourth frame. Off a corner, Norr sent an insert to Billhimer, who tapped it to Abendschoen. Drawing attention at the left edge of the circle, the senior quickly threaded a pass to Courtney Hughlett, who settled on the right side.

After handling the pass, Hughlett whipped it inside to Shealer, who deflected a rope over the keeper for her second strike of the contest.

With a comfortable 4-0 lead, Christopher Newport continued to shine on the defensive end. Off the restart following CNU's fourth goal, Caroline Hughlett immediately intercepted an aerial before bottling up a ground assault just 10 second later.

Continuing to silence the Centre attack, Lainey Pratzner picked off a pass up the left sideline before Sierra Pratzner pressured a midfielder along the opposite boundary and forced another failed clear. Later, in the middle of the turf, Abendschoen stole possession, split two midfielders, and handed the ball to Iasiello, who jump-started a counterstrike.

With the defense struggling to catch up, Iasiello found Steele, who unloaded a missile from pointblank range. Although the keeper handled the initial attempt, Evans secured the deflection and blasted a dart past the goalie for the final tally of the contest.

Still searching for the shutout, Gibson closed off a rally in the right corner before Erin Farley won control of a deflection off the stick of a midfielder and raced up the field on a successful clear. Shortly thereafter, Gigi Stephan won a duel with a Colonel along the right sideline, while Billhimer picked off a pass during a dangerous 2-on-1 rally inside the circle to help ice the contest.

Between the pipes, Lily Kerr pieced together a spotless first half for her 37th career victory, while Ella Fallen added a perfect showing over the final 30 minutes to secure CNU's fourth shutout of the year.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 41-0 advantage in shots and a 16-0 lead in corners during the contest.

The Captains will return to action on Wednesday with a 5:30 p.m. showdown at Catholic.

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