NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Kelsey Winters broke the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference record for career assists, while Julia Iapicca led an electric fourth-quarter surge as the 24th-ranked Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team rallied past No. 16 Roanoke, 11-9, on a cloud-covered Saturday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.

Trailing by three entering the final 15 minutes of regulation, CNU turned to Iapicca, who unleashed an incredible assault in the fourth quarter to headline the comeback bid. The reigning All-American deposited three goals during the period, including the final two daggers of the game, which sealed the come-from-behind victory.

Iapicca eventually finished the contest with six total goals, while Kelsey Winters added three points, including a pair of helpers. Her final assist of the contest not only set up the go-ahead goal with seven minutes remaining in regulation, but it also marked her 207th career helper. That established a new league record, moving her past Mary Washington's Allie Kimmelman for the most in conference history.

With her performance, Winters also moved to eighth on the all-time Division III assists list and 19th in the history of collegiate lacrosse.

Equally impactful during the victory, Syd Guidi notched a pair of tallies, while Emma Jackson anchored the back line with four caused turnovers. Iapicca also had four strips to go along with her sensational work on the offensive side of the ball.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improved to 2-0 on the season, while the setback dropped Roanoke to 1-1. The win also marked CNU's second straight triumph over a nationally-ranked foe after knocking off No. 7 Washington & Lee, 12-10, on Wednesday.

Entering the final stanza staring at a 9-6 deficit, the Captains quickly retaliated. Setting the tone right away, Carys May walled off the right sideline and broke up an initial rush by the Maroons. Moments later, Iapicca jumped a passing lane while cutting in front of a midfielder on a failed clear by Roanoke. After gaining possession, she flashed her wheels and beat the entire defense on a sprint to the cage.

Earning a one-on-one with the keeper, Iapicca scored with a full head of steam to cut the deficit down to two.

Inching closer, Maddie Rusinko stoned an attacker who attempted to cut inside from the top of the zone. After the ball hit the turf, Iapicca grabbed the bouncer and immediately cleared the defensive end. With Roanoke struggling to catch up, Faith O'Connor drew attention on the right side of the crease before connecting with Brookelyn Morrison, who filled the vacated area and stung the back of the net.

Looking to pull even, Syd Guidi came up with the ensuing draw before Winters jammed home the equalizer. With Iapicca setting a screen that bottled up a pair of defenders, Winters rolled to her left and whipped a laser inside the right post to knot the score at nine.

Just over a minute later, Roanoke looked ready to break the deadlock after earning a free-position attempt. However, Morrison and Jackson came through with one of the top defensive plays of the day. The two standouts quickly crashed down on the Maroon and forced a loose ball before the attacker could even take a shot.

With possession going the other way, Iapicca and Winters ran a gorgeous give-and-go. Iapicca sent a feed to Winters, cut around her defender, and capitalized on the return feed to snatch a 10-9 lead with seven minutes remaining in the contest.

Once again, Roanoke nearly had an answer after earning another look from the eight-meter arc. However, this time, Hadley Chadwick gobbled up the rip from the left side of the zone before Kate Lamendola secured the rebound and ended the threat.

With time winding down, Iapicca landed one final blow. Facing a one-on-one situation with a Maroon in the left corner, she simply burned her defender, circled in front of the cage, and hammered home the final nail to lock up the victory.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 20-8 advantage in ground balls, while Roanoke led the way on the draw, 14-10. Meanwhile, both teams unleashed 24 shots during the 60-minute affair.

Long before she put the finishing touches on the victory, Iapicca opened the scoring in the fifth minute. Catching a quick flip from Winters, she stormed inside and deposited from close range to grab a 1-0 lead.

Later, after another free-position save by Chadwick and a strip from Jackson, Lamendola stretched the advantage to two. After collecting a pass from Morrison, the freshman standout ducked under a pair of defenders before sprinting down the left alley on the way to her second goal of the season.

Unfortunately, Roanoke fought back. The visitors quickly tied the game at the end of the first period before taking a one-goal lead early in the second. Looking to steal back some momentum, Iapicca shook a defender with a quick cut to her right before skipping a seed off the turf. The ball eventually kissed the crossbar and snuck inside the cage for a perfectly-placed goal, which knotted the game at three.

Trading blows, the Maroons regained the lead with back-to-back goals before Iapicca added her third of the first half.

Once again, Roanoke regained a two-goal cushion entering halftime before Guidi put on a show after the break. Kicking off the third period in style, she broke out a stutter-step to leave a Maroon in the dust before scoring on the inside. Minutes later, the fourth-year phenom added her second tally after launching a missile just under the crossbar on a free-position attempt in the 38th minute.

Although the visitors continued to respond and stole a three-goal advantage at the end of the third period, Christopher Newport was undeterred. Eventually, the hosts found their rhythm on both ends of the field while outscoring the opposition, 5-0, in the final period to seal the comeback victory.

Chadwick finished the game with eight saves, including three on eight-meter attempts. Meanwhile, Iapicca had a team-high four draw controls and four ground balls. Morrison, May, and Winters also had three rollers apiece, while Rusinko forced a pair of turnovers to cap off an outstanding week by the third-year defender.

CNU will return to action on Wednesday when the Captains host Randolph-Macon at 7 p.m.

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