NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Storming out to an early lead, the 18th-ranked Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team pieced together a wire-to-wire victory as the Captains rolled past St. Mary's (Md.), 20-8, during a non-conference tilt on a windy Wednesday evening at Jennings Family Stadium.

Setting the tone early, CNU shut out the opposition, 3-0, in the first quarter before cruising to the lopsided victory. Kelsey Winters opened the action with the first two goals of the contest before finishing with a game-high seven points. The All-American also helped kill off multiple clear attempts while finishing with a career-high three takeaways.

Equally impressive in all facets of the game, Brookelyn Morrison registered five points and three caused turnovers. Additionally, she collected 11 draw controls, which equaled the 10th-highest total in program history. Along the way, she recorded her 100th career draw, becoming the 16th Captain to reach that milestone.

Rounding out the high-volume scorers, Julia Iapicca deposited five goals for the victors, while Syd Guidi added four. Overall, seven different players contributed at least two points during the victory.

On the other side of the field, CNU finished with 19 takeaways, which equaled the fifth-most in program history. Emma Jackson led the way with four strips on the back end. Guidi, Iapicca, Madi Rozgonyi, and Carys May all had two apiece as well.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improved to 7-2 on the season, while the setback dropped St. Mary's (Md.) to 4-5.

Right from the start, the hosts grabbed control of the contest. Tormenting the opposition in the early going, Winters torched the defense. Just over a minute into regulation, she dipped under a defender and beat a second Seahawk to the left post before dunking over the keeper. Less than a minute later, she reversed course behind the cage and sank another strike on the doorstep after rolling around the crease.

Continuing the attack in the sixth minute, Morrison bounced off a physical check on the interior before handing possession to Iapicca, who skipped a dart through the keeper for her first goal of the contest.

Meanwhile, on the opposite end, the Captains never let St. Mary's find a rhythm. During their first surge of the game, May applied pressure along the left side of the crease before pouncing on the loose ball and flipping the field. Later in the period, Sloane McDonald stayed in the face of the SMC goalie and forced an errant pass on a failed clear before Guidi slammed the door on another rally after stripping a midfielder along the right sideline.

Jackson also added her first two takeaways of the contest late in the period after intercepting a pass near midfield before grabbing another feed that hit the turf along the crease.

Leading 3-0 after the first 15 minutes, Christopher Newport quickly stretched its advantage in the second stanza. Guidi landed the first two blows of the period, including a gorgeous goal that saw her leave a defender in the dust at the top of the zone with a slick stutter-step.

Although the Seahawks notched their first three goals in the middle of the period, CNU never lost the momentum. Iapicca responded with a pair of tallies, while Guidi came back with her third after twisting around a defender in the left alley. Later, Winters whistled a missile into the bottom right corner off a free-position attempt before connecting with Morrison in the final minute to secure a 10-3 lead at halftime.

Following the break, the Captains kept up the assault. Morrison continued her afternoon with a rocket along the crease before Hope Hunter skipped one home off an eight-meter attempt. Later in the period, Winters used a pump-fake to open up a passing lane behind the crease before finding Page Henry curling along the right post.

Shortly thereafter, Henry came back with her second goal after sidestepping a defender in the middle of the crowd on the way to a 14-6 advantage.

Meanwhile, the defense continued to clamp down as well. Morrison came through with a huge takeaway during a shorthanded situation after snagging a feed that clanked off the out-stretched stick of an attacker along the crease. Later, Jackson punched a ball out of the air along the left pipe before Iapicca dropped an attacker and snatched a roller at the top of the arc towards the end of the period.

Fostering a 14-6 lead entering the fourth quarter, Christopher Newport cruised to the victory. McDonald kicked off the final stanza after scoring along the interior despite taking a stick to the face in the 49th minute. Later, Maelyn Eversole set up Winters' final goal before adding her own dagger after dodging a defender during a one-on-one situation at the top of the zone.

Meanwhile, Iapicca added two late goals, including a sidewinder off a free-position attempt, before Guidi struck along the right post for the game's final tally.

Along with the offensive highlights, Maddie Tomaszewski provided a spark on the draw as the second-year standout collected four late draw controls to keep St. Mary's from orchestrating a comeback. Hadley Chadwick also added five saves over the final 30 minutes, including a key block on a free-position attempt.

Overall, CNU held a 31-19 advantage in shots and a 20-12 lead in ground balls. The Captains also controlled 18 of the game's 32 draws.

Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday when the squad wraps up its homestand with a 1 p.m. test against Meredith.

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