SALISBURY, Md. -- For the second time in eight days, the sixth-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team took No. 1 Salisbury to the wire as the Captains battled through a 60-minute fight in regulation and a pair of overtime scrums before falling in a shootout, 2-1, during the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament on a chilly Sunday afternoon at Sea Gull Stadium.

Similar to last week's Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Championship, the Captains were an 80-minute equal to the top-ranked Sea Gulls, but the hosts had just enough left to convert all of their attempts in the shootout while earning a trip to the Final Four. Caroline Hughlett scored Christopher Newport's lone goal in regulation after sinking a penalty stroke in the third quarter, while she, Courtney Hughlett, and Lindsey Loar all capitalized on their attempts in the shootout.

Along with the offensive heroes, Lily Kerr was magical between the pipes. The junior goalie was tested throughout the contest but allowed just a single goal while pocketing 11 saves. Her 11 stops equaled the most by a Captain in an NCAA Tournament game, tying the mark set by Ashley Whipple against Salisbury on November 11, 2006 and matched by Emma Stout against TCNJ on November 15, 2008.

Meanwhile, Kendall Gibson came through with her fifth defensive save of the season, and Courtney Hughlett added her first to help stymie the high-powered Salisbury attack.

Equally effective throughout the contest, Katie Abendschoen and Brooke Billhimer wrapped up their decorated tenures with a little more history on Sunday. The two senior standouts started their 75th career game, tying the program record set by Stephanie Bair from 2007-10 and matched by Brianna Milne from 2008-11. Making the current Captains' run even more impressive, they started every game during their illustrious four-year stint in Newport News. That shattered the longest "Iron Man" streak in program history.

Sunday's game was also the seventh start by Abendschoen, Billhimer, and Lainey Pratzner in the NCAA Tournament dating back to the 2021 campaign. That equaled the most starts by a Captain in the national playoffs, matching the historic tenures of current assistant coach Marlene Lichty and longtime legend Jordan Snider, who both started seven straight tournament games from 2010-13.

With the setback, Christopher Newport wrapped up the 2024 season with a 16-3 record. It was the program's third appearance in the Elite Eight, placing the current Captains alongside the legendary teams from 2006 and 2013.

After a 60-minute thrill ride in regulation, CNU and Salisbury engaged in another epic overtime session. Playing shorthanded at the start after the Captains were hit with a card at the end of the fourth quarter, Abendschoen made a huge tackle along the right sideline to flip control. Trying to kill time, she teamed up with Billhimer and Ellie Nuckols to run some clock while safely possessing the ball on the defensive end before the squad returned to even strength.

Back to 7-on-7 action, Salisbury orchestrated the first rush of the overtime period as a Sea Gull wiggled free on a fast break. Facing a one-on-one situation, Kerr showed a steely resolve between the pipes as the reigning All-American made a game-saving kick save to eliminate the threat.

Following the stop, Nuckols cleared the ball up the left boundary and handed possession to the attack. Later, Avery Mast kept the ball on the offensive end with an interception near midfield. Trying to capitalize, the freshman burst towards the circle before finding Delaney Norr, who had a step on Salisbury's last defender. Taking the ball, Norr was tripped on the interior but still managed to uncork a diving dagger that just spun past the right post.

Still on the attack, Nuckols found Lindsey Loar along the edge of the arc. Dancing through the defense, the second-year star sidestepped a Sea Gull before dipping underneath a second defender inside the circle. Eventually, she got free long enough to whip a missile towards the cage, but her shot was deflected on the interior.

After rebuffing CNU's advances, Salisbury finished the first overtime period with three straight corners in the final minute. Standing tall, Billhimer rode an attacker along the left post to prevent a shot on the initial try before Courtney Hughlett ripped possession away from a shooter at the top of the circle on a second attempt.

Then, with no time left on the clock, the Captains survived one last scare. Forcing a second overtime, Nuckols applied immediate pressure at the top of the zone, while Courtney Hughlett shadowed an attacker who rolled towards the left wing. Meanwhile, on the inside, Billhimer stayed deep and stood up a pair of Sea Gulls along the post to prevent a shot and polish off an incredible defensive stand.

Still attacking early in the second overtime, Salisbury had a clean look inside the circle, but Kerr made a remarkable stop on a high-rising rocket along the right pipe. After that point, Christopher Newport's attack went to work.

On a pair of early runs, Loar and Caroline Hughlett put the Sea Gulls in the spin cycle as the two stars weaved through the defense while bolting inside the arc. Seconds later, the Captains picked up back-to-back corners, but Abendschoen's on-target tracer was punched away by the keeper.

Refusing to let the hosts attempt a counterstrike, Abendschoen darted back to midfield as three Salisbury attackers slipped behind the defense. Preventing an outlet pass, the senior came through with a textbook, one-on-one tackle along the right sideline to prevent a jailbreak. Then, along the opposite boundary, Billhimer was perfectly positioned on an aerial attempt to slow down an attacker in the left corner.

With a shootout approaching, both teams attempted one last rush. For the Captains, Loar plucked possession away from a Sea Gull, cut through two defenders, and wiggled into the circle, but her rally was cut off on the interior. Then, Salisbury tried to retaliate, but Billhimer came through with one more highlight.

In the final minute, a Salisbury attacker had a head of steam while sprinting up the left sideline. Staying back, Billhimer tracked the play before pouncing at midfield. Putting her instincts on full display, she dipped low, got her stick on the ball, and grabbed possession as the Sea Gull flipped head-over-heels during the physical confrontation.

Following the action-packed 80-minute marathon, the two teams settled in for their second shootout in the last two weeks. Loar landed CNU's first blow after cutting hard to her left before connecting on a backhand.

After Loar's successful conversion, the Hughletts followed suit. Both twins burst straight up the gut, cut to their left, and landed reverse rockets after beating the goalie. Unfortunately, despite the heroics of Christopher Newport's sophomore class, Salisbury matched them blow-for-blow and eventually won four consecutive shootout battles to steal the win.

Overall, the Sea Gulls held a 22-16 advantage in shots and a 13-6 edge in corners. Despite the statistical discrepancies, Kerr and the rest of the defense kept the Captains in the game until the very last moment.

Long before the contest came to an end, Salisbury set the tone in the early going. In the first quarter, the hosts controlled the tempo and put sustained pressure on Christopher Newport's defensive unit, but the Captains were up to the challenge. Minutes into the game, Kerr kicked away an absolute missile off an early corner before handling a dangerous bouncer that skipped through the circle. Seconds later, the junior goalie made a pad save on an elevated assault along the left baseline.

Although CNU was able to clear the ball for a brief moment, two Sea Gulls burst down the center of the field, but Morgan Shealer disrupted the rush and forced them to their right where Gibson came through with a solid strip along the 25.

Still on their heels, the Captains dug in further. Kerr made a sliding stop on a dagger from the doorstep, while Gibson and Caroline Hughlett sealed off a rush along the right edge of the arc. Later, Kerr and Billhimer deflected a turnaround attempt on the inside before Christopher Newport faced back-to-back corners at the end of the period.

Keeping the shutout intact, Nuckols took over as the flyer while helping kill off both threats. On the first corner, she applied immediate pressure in the right wing, which forced a bullet to sail wide. Then, on the final rally, Nuckols flew out of the cage and eventually drew contact on the interior to prevent the Sea Gulls from even attempting a shot.

In the second stanza, Salisbury continued to push forward, but Christopher Newport never relented on the back end. On an early rally, two attackers slipped behind the defense, but Billhimer came through with a marvelous interception to prevent a pass from landing on the interior. Later, the senior stalwart blocked a rip in the middle of the period, while Shealer gobbled up a spinner that dribbled deep inside the circle.

Undeterred, the Sea Gulls came back and secured three consecutive corners, but the Captains remained vigilant. Locking down the Salisbury attack, Billhimer controlled a bouncer on the first try, Nuckols blocked an absolute howitzer on the second attempt, and Courtney Hughlett capped off the surge after sliding into a shooting lane to prevent a blast from the right side on the final corner.

Looking to flip the field in the final minutes of the first half, Shealer dropped low and blocked a rush along the left baseline before Norr came through with a successful clear. Putting her athleticism on full display, the senior speedster ran right past a midfielder before barreling through a second Sea Gull who attempted to throw up a roadblock along the right boundary.

After Norr's clear, the offense pieced together its first sustained threat of the contest. On the inside, Riley Iasiello took possession and hammered a dart in traffic. Although the initial shot was kicked away, the pressure generated a corner in the final moments of the half.

After working the ball around the horn, Abendschoen unloaded a missile from the top left, but the screamer caught the pipe. Incredibly, the deflection shot over towards Norr, who was stationed along the opposite post, but her diving redirect was turned away by a defender to keep the game scoreless entering halftime.

Following a defensive grind over the first 30 minutes, the attacks took over at the start of the third period. Less than a minute into the stanza, the Sea Gulls opened the scoring after capitalizing on a deflection during a penalty corner. Then, 40 seconds later, the Captains fought back.

Kicking off the surge, Mast fired a bullet into the circle. The ball had enough spin on it to deflect off multiple defenders before bouncing towards the left post. Stationed along the pipe, Caroline Hughlett tried to settle the bouncer but was tackled by the goalie, which earned a penalty stroke.

Taking advantage of her own play, Hughlett stepped to the dot and whistled a low liner just inside the left pipe to even the score at one.

Trading blows, Salisbury nearly responded on back-to-back corners, but CNU put together another masterful performance. On the first try, Kerr got her foot on an initial rocket before Gibson sealed off the right side with a vital defensive save on a second-chance shot. Then, on the squad's next opportunity, Abendschoen deflected a centering feed before Billhimer blocked a blast on the inside.

After her work on the corner, Billhimer wrapped up the period in style. Facing a 3-on-2 rush, she rode an attacker for 20 yards before Pratzner swooped in and ripped the ball right off the stick of a streaker during a successful double-team. Then, Billhimer came back with two interceptions at the top edge of the arc before adding a tremendous tackle on another surge in the final minute of the period.

In the fourth frame, Salisbury had three early looks on the offensive end, but Kerr punted a shot on a quick rally before joining forces with Gibson to block off a laser on a corner attempt. Then, on a second corner, Nuckols caused a shot to sail wide after pressuring a shooter at the top of the arc.

Fighting back on the other end, Christopher Newport picked up the pace. Loar darted up the right sideline, dodged a midfielder, and completed a clear. Moments later, the visitors came up with a pair of penalty corners, but Abendschoen had a shot blocked on the first attempt before her second try was swallowed on the left wing. Meanwhile, Norr collected a crosser in the center of the circle, but her nuke was brushed aside by the goalie.

Still marching forward, Loar flashed her athleticism with a great cut to spin past a defender before launching a long hit into the circle. Unfortunately, Maddison Steele was swarmed on the interior before she could generate a shot.

Entering the final moments of regulation, Christopher Newport collected one last corner in the 58th minute, but Billhimer's screamer was handled by the defense. Later, Loar had a turnaround tracer that skipped through traffic and nearly snuck across the line, but a Salisbury defender got her stick on the ball just before it slipped inside the right post.

In the final minute, the Captains were hit with a card and played 10-on-11 for the remaining 45 seconds of regulation. With their backs planted firmly against the wall, Abendschoen made a phenomenal play to knock a bouncer away at the top of the circle. Later, Loar cleared the ball to Steele, who weaved her way around two Sea Gulls before taking on three more defenders inside the arc during an acrobatic run. Unfortunately, after backing her way into the circle, she was tackled at the last moment as Salisbury escaped when the final horn sounded.

Following a back-and-forth battle in regulation, the overtime period was equally contentious as the two teams were evenly matched throughout the contest. Sadly, after 80 minutes of non-stop action, Salisbury managed to squeak out the win in the shootout.

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