NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Showcasing a well-balanced attack, 14 Captains registered at least one point, while 11 found the back of the cage as the 18th-ranked Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team handled Meredith, 20-3, on a cloud-covered Saturday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.

Against the Avenging Angels, CNU bolted out to a 12-1 halftime lead and never looked back. Syd Guidi opened the scoring with the game's first three goals before finishing with four total strikes. Meanwhile, Kelsey Winters handed out eight assists, equaling the fourth-most by a Captain in program history.

With her work on Saturday, Winters moved into a tie with former Buffalo State legend Kendyl Clarkson for third on the all-time Division III charts with her 240th career assist. She also jumped to eighth on the all-divisions list, vaulting past North Carolina All-American Katie Hoeg and Montclair State star Cathy Homiek during the game.

Sloane McDonald and Julia Iapicca also contributed five points apiece, while Page Henry and Eleanor Collins also added two goals each. Collins also served as the centerpiece on CNU's incredible draw control unit, which secured 19 of the game's 24 battles. Brookelyn Morrison had eight draws and five takeaways, while Emma Jackson added six draws as well.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improved to 8-2 on the season, while the setback dropped Meredith to 4-4.

From the very beginning, Guidi set the tone with an assault on the offensive end. The senior star struck three times in the opening quarter. She opened the action in the third minute after sidestepping a defender before pulling out a pump-fake to slow down a second Angel. Still rolling inside, she eventually whipped a one-timer under the crossbar for the game's opening tally.

Later in the stanza, she capitalized on back-to-back feeds from Winters to push the lead to 3-0 before Iapicca added a free-position missile to cap off the scoring in the first 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, on the back end, Jackson disrupted an eight-meter attempt and knocked down a pass on the interior, which Laci Welch collected. Shortly thereafter, Morrison added a pair of takeaways, including a physical altercation with an attacker in the left alley, which helped generate a breakaway after Madi Rozgonyi gobbled up the loose ball.

Still setting the tone on the defensive side, Henry helped cut off a pair of clears by the Avenging Angels early in the second quarter. She also landed a high-to-high hammer in the 19th minute to gain a 5-0 edge.

With all the momentum, Christopher Newport continued to stretch its lead. McDonald landed a pair of blows, including a gorgeous goal in transition off a feed from Winters. Guidi also added her fourth rip before Morrison pieced together an unbelievable showcase in the middle of the stanza.

Kicking off the rally, Morrison secured a draw after elevating over a midfielder and making an out-stretched snag off a flip from Collins. After crashing back down to Earth following her leaping grab, she found herself splayed out on the turf with three Angels in hot pursuit. Unfazed by the pressure, she made a pinpoint pass from her back to Collins, who started the possession.

Fittingly, after her acrobatic efforts on the draw, Morrison came back with an assist to Maelyn Eversole, who sank a spinner for a 9-0 lead.

Although Meredith answered less than a minute later, the Captains closed out the first half in style. Winters connected with Iapicca and Henry on back-to-back darts before Collins added the final bolt to steal a 12-1 advantage entering the break.

After halftime, Christopher Newport continued to stretch its lead. On the defensive end, Carys May won a brawl with multiple attackers along the left pipe before Emilie Shoults punched a pass away on a failed clear near midfield. Drew Stanley also subdued a surge with pressure along the right sideline, while Morrison had two strips of her own.

On the opposite end, Blake Hopkins kicked off the second-half scoring with a turnaround tracer off a feed from Winters. Shortly thereafter, McDonald added a goal and assist in a four-minute span before Collins struck on the inside to earn a 16-1 edge heading into a Meredith timeout.

Rolling towards the end of the period, CNU added one final tally in the stanza. Eversole connected with Emily Snyder, who hit the brakes, cut around a defender, and hammered on the interior for a 17-1 lead.

With little left to prove, Christopher Newport added three final bullets over the last 15 minutes. Stanley found Maddie Lamy cutting on the inside before Shoults skipped a strike under Meredith's leaping keeper in the 51st minute. Later, Stanley handed possession to Jacqueline Thomas, who sidestepped a defender, switched hands, and drove home the final nail to punctuate the 20-3 victory.

During the contest, CNU out-shot the Avenging Angels, 36-8, and held an 18-10 lead in ground balls. Jackson led the way with three rollers, while Eversole, Rozgonyi, McDonald, and Morrison had two apiece. Hadley Chadwick also came through with four saves, including two on free-position attempts.

Christopher Newport will return to action on Wednesday at 4 p.m. when the squad travels to No. 14 York (Pa.).

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