NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Capitalizing on a gritty defensive performance and a late eruption on the offensive end, the 21st-ranked Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team broke a fourth-quarter deadlock on the way to a thrilling 9-6 victory over Catholic during the second round of the NCAA Tournament on a sun-soaked Sunday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.

Trailing by two in the third quarter, the Captains staged an epic comeback as the squad suffocated the high-powered Catholic attack while pouring in six late goals, including four in the fourth quarter. Headlining the offensive efforts, Syd Guidi finished with four points and notched her 13th hat-trick of the season. She also added a back-breaking bullet with four minutes left in regulation to help ice the victory.

Along with Guidi, Kelsey Winters contributed three points, while Sloane McDonald added a pair of darts. Additionally, Julia Iapicca handed out two assists, including a nice feed to Brookelyn Morrison, which led to the go-ahead strike in the final frame.

Equally effective on the back end, Christopher Newport came through with 15 takeaways, including four by Morrison. Several freshmen also made an immediate impact during their first appearance on the national stage. Gabby Saia pocketed a career-high three caused turnovers, while Kate Lamendola matched her finest performance of the year with a pair of strips.

Between the pipes, Hadley Chadwick collected 10 saves, including five in the third quarter as the Captains dug their way out of the two-goal hole. Along the way, the second-year standout notched her 200th career save, becoming just the seventh goalie in program history to hit that mark.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improved to 14-6 on the season and punched its ticket to the third round of the NCAA Tournament for a rematch with No. 7 Washington and Lee, which will take place next Saturday. Additional information regarding location and game time of that contest will be available later this week.

Meanwhile, Catholic wrapped up its year with a 13-8 record.

After the visitors slipped out to a 5-3 lead early in the third quarter, Catholic attempted to stretch its advantage but ran headfirst into a brick wall. On the back end, Saia slowed down a surge along the left post before Chadwick kicked aside a low-percentage shot. Securing the deflection, Carys May pounced on the loose ball and kicked off a successful clear.

Needing to respond on the other end, Winters pushed inside and drew a pair of defenders. Despite the barricade, she floated a feed to McDonald, who snapped off a high heater under the crossbar, which pulled the hosts back within one.

Still searching for the equalizer, the Captains went right back to work. Although Catholic held up against a pair of initial runs, Christopher Newport killed off two straight clears. First, Iapicca flashed her wheels while tracking down a midfielder during a quick rush. Eventually, she caught up to the Cardinal and stripped her from behind with a gorgeous trail-check.

Moments later, after Catholic regained possession, Morrison kept the ball planted on the offensive end after stonewalling a defender along the restraining line.

Finally, in the 39th minute, Winters knotted the score at five. With almost no room to work, the All-American circled around the right pipe, split a pair of Cardinals, and bounced a bullet off the left post and into the back of the net for her second goal of the contest.

Back on even ground, the defense put on a show. In the waning moments of the third quarter, Chadwick made three saves, including two during a 30-second spurt. Later, Iapicca batted down a pass on the interior before Lamendola cleared the zone. Although the Cardinals returned to the scene in the final seconds of the period, Madi Rozgonyi drew a charge along the left alley to stymie Catholic's last rally of the stanza.

Continuing the work in the fourth quarter, Maelyn Eversole chipped in with a leaping interception near midfield. Less than a minute later, Iapicca connected with Morrison, who burned a blast into the top left corner of the cage for CNU's first lead since the second quarter.

Leading by the slimmest of margins, Christopher Newport kept attacking. In the 50th minute, Guidi and McDonald put their height to good use. Nearing the end of the shot clock, Guidi drew a double-team in the right alley. Unfazed by the pressure, she sent a high feed to McDonald, who quickly fired a rope over the head of a third defender to steal a two-goal edge.

After Catholic responded, CNU put its resiliency on full display. Despite getting hit with a pair of cards over the next five minutes, the Captains starred during the shorthanded situations. First, Morrison came through with a man-down interception. Minutes later, during a yellow card, Emma Jackson dislodged a ball on the right side of the zone to slow down an initial push. Although the visitors kept possession for a brief moment, Lamendola dropped an attacker on the opposite side of the field before grabbing the roller and bolting up the right sideline.

Following a timeout, Rozgonyi completed a successful clear after squeezing between two defenders and the sideline. Eventually, Guidi took control, slipped past four Cardinals, and sniped along the left pipe to grab a two-goal cushion with four minutes left in regulation.

That strike was her second man-down missile of the year, placing her alongside Morrison, longtime legend Becca Geist, and CNU Hall of Famer Ashton Marshall as the only Captains with two in a single season. 

Still looking for more, Iapicca jumped on the ensuing draw before handing the ball to Jackson. Showing off some fancy footwork, the fourth-year phenom circled around two midfielders, outran a third defender, and shrugged off a stick to the back while dancing up the right sideline to give the attack another opportunity.

After chopping over a minute off of the clock, Eversole came back with the final exclamation point. Sprinting around the right post, she hit the brakes, cut underneath a Cardinal, toed the crease, and snapped off a screamer just under the crossbar to polish off the scoring.

That laser was Eversole's eighth career goal in NCAA Tournament action, tying Christopher Newport Hall of Famers Meghan Harkey and Kaitlin Quigley for the most in program history.

With less than three minutes left in regulation, Eleanor Collins sent the next draw spinning to Guidi, who grabbed control and burned a path into the left corner. Although Catholic eventually took possession with 90 seconds left on the clock, the CNU defense pushed back against a late surge.

May cut off a run down the center of the zone, while Lamendola stuck with an attacker who tried to roll free near the right alley. Later, Saia and Morrison double-teamed a Cardinal along the left post, while Chadwick added one final save on a low liner to complete the come-from-behind victory.

During the contest, Guidi finished with six draw controls to go along with her four points. Iapicca also secured three ground balls, including her 57th of the year. She now sits fourth on the program's all-time single-season charts, just five rollers shy of the school record set by Kristen Conques in 2006.

Long before the Captains pulled away for the three-goal victory, the two teams engaged in a back-and-forth affair. Guidi opened the scoring midway through the first quarter after sidestepping a defender before landing a bouncer inside the right pipe.

Although Catholic evened the game at one, Christopher Newport shined on the back side. During a shorthanded situation, Blake Hopkins knocked down a pass in the center of the zone before Chadwick swallowed a high-to-high hammer. Later, Saia punched a ball free and won a scramble for the roller to help keep the game knotted at one entering the second stanza.

Breaking the 1-1 tie, Winters unleashed a turnaround jumper while slinging a shot over the head of a defender and the keeper for her first goal. Although Catholic responded, Guidi fired back in the middle of the period. After Iapicca drew a crowd at the top of the zone, Guidi secured a feed, ducked underneath a defender, and scored on the interior for a 3-2 edge.

Meanwhile, on the back end, Morrison came through with two takeaways, including a nice stick lift to strip a Cardinal who attempted to push inside. Lamendola also dropped the hammer on another attacker on the right side, while Rozgonyi walled off a separate rush later in the period.

Despite Christopher Newport's defensive efforts, Catholic managed to score two straight goals at the end of the first half before adding an early tally in the third to steal the 5-3 edge. However, CNU never relented and orchestrated a comeback for the ages to earn the program's third victory in NCAA Tournament action.

During the contest, CNU held a 22-20 edge in shots and a 12-7 lead in draw controls, including a 6-0 advantage in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Catholic led the way in ground balls, 24-15.

---ISH---