SALISBURY, Md. -- Piecing together one final record-setting performance, Kelsey Winters established a new Division III standard for career assists, but the 21st-ranked Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team could not quite overtake No. 7 Washington and Lee as the Captains dropped a hard-fought 12-10 decision during the NCAA Regional Semifinals on Saturday afternoon at Salisbury's Sea Gull Stadium.

During the contest, Winters handed out five assists while finishing with 277 career helpers. That eclipsed the previous Division III record of 275, which was set by Rhodes' Emily Bruner from 2019-23. In fact, in the entire history of collegiate lacrosse, Winters' 277 assists rank second among all players from all three levels of the NCAA.

Equally effective on the offensive side, Syd Guidi landed five goals against Washington and Lee. That equaled the most by a Captain in an NCAA Tournament game. It tied the record originally set by Christopher Newport Hall of Famer Kaitlin Quigley against W&L on May 12, 2010 and matched by current teammate Maelyn Eversole against Johnson & Wales on May 13, 2023.

On the other end of the field, Emma Jackson added her own record-setting performance. In the first half, the senior standout recorded her 90th career caused turnover. That broke the previous school standard of 89, which was set by former legend Emily Johnson from 2011-14.

Among other standouts on the back end, freshman Kate Lamendola recorded a career-high four takeaways against Washington and Lee, while Hadley Chadwick pocketed eight saves.

With the setback, Christopher Newport wrapped up the year with a 14-7 record, while W&L improved to 18-3 and advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals on Sunday.

Evenly matched throughout the contest, the two teams split the game's first four goals. In the fourth minute, Guidi ripped a rocket from the right hash on a free-position attempt. Shortly thereafter, Winters threaded a pass through the outstretched sticks of three defenders. On the receiving end, Morrison caught the feed and snapped a nifty bounce shot around the ankles of the Washington and Lee goalie.

Meanwhile, on the defensive end, Christopher Newport held firm against the high-powered Generals. In the middle of the opening frame, Eversole helped kill off a clear attempt with tight defense along the right sideline. Later, on an eight-meter attempt by the Generals, Jackson applied immediate pressure to the shooter, while Madi Rozgonyi backed up the off-target attempt to flip possession.

Holding a slim 3-2 advantage at the end of the first quarter, Washington and Lee opened up a healthier lead in the second stanza. Although Sloane McDonald capitalized on a quick flip from Winters to net her first goal of the contest, the Generals erupted in the middle of the period to steal a 7-3 edge.

Fighting back, Christopher Newport dug in on the defensive end. Jackson came through with her record-setting takeaway after riding an attacker along the left alley before punching a ball loose in the center of the zone. Later, Rozgonyi got under the chin of a shooter and forced an errant attempt, while Gabby Saia blew up a play with a physical ride. Carys May and Julia Iapicca also double-teamed a cutter to kill off a separate threat.

Meanwhile, on the other end, Winters found herself isolated with a defender behind the cage. Dodging to her left, she switched hands, created a little space, and found Morrison charging down the right lane for the team's fourth goal.

After inching back within three, Christopher Newport kept the deficit at 7-4 with more solid work on the back end in the final minutes of the first half. Chadwick made a point-blank save after an attacker slipped free on the interior. Later, Jackson and Morrison collapsed down on a shooter during a free-position attempt, while Rozgonyi came through with a huge strip after clubbing the stick right out of the hands of a General to punctuate the second stanza.

Following the break, Christopher Newport continued to shine on the defensive side. Chadwick chipped in with a pair of brilliant saves in the early moments of the third frame. First, she walled off the five-hole with a slick stop on a low liner off a free-position attempt. Then, in the 34th minute, she added a tricky save during a one-on-one battle with an attacker on the interior.

Meanwhile, the offense continued to click. Early in the period, Guidi sank a bullet under the crossbar for her second eight-meter missile of the contest. Later, after W&L responded, Christopher Newport fired right back.

With five minutes left in the third period, Winters added her name to the history books. With a defender on her hip, she dodged behind the crease, elevated, and lofted a floater to McDonald, who polished off the play to give Winters her 276th career assist. Then, Hope Hunter cut the deficit back down to one after skipping a seed through W&L's keeper on another free-position attempt.

The defense also continued to clamp down on the back end. Saia pieced together a fantastic play on the doorstep. After a General wiggled free, the freshman phenom tracked her down and got just enough of the shooter's stick to disrupt the attempt. Moments later, Morrison jumped a passing lane along the right pipe to pocket her first takeaway of the contest.

In the fourth quarter, Washington and Lee stretched its advantage to 10-7 before Christopher Newport retaliated. First, on the back side, Lamendola collected three takeaways in the span of four minutes. She joined forces with Morrison on a successful double-team before adding an interception along the crease. Capping off her run, she won a one-on-one battle in the left alley after knocking the ball loose before completing a clear up the sideline.

On the offensive end, Guidi went to work. With nine minutes left, she outran a defender, cut inside of a second General, and launched a dagger into the right corner of the cage. Following a W&L timeout, she came back with her second straight strike after pumping a one-timer during a run up the right side of the field.

Unfortunately, Washington and Lee had an answer. The Generals snapped off two straight goals of their own to regain a 12-9 cushion with four minutes left in regulation. 

Needing to work quickly, Eleanor Collins sent the ensuing draw spiraling through the air before Jackson won possession. Although W&L eventually regained control, Saia quickly reached out and punched a ball free to strip a streaker on a run up the gut.

Taking advantage on the opposite end, Winters dropped a pinpoint feed to Guidi, who evaded a closing defender and jerked a shot inside the left post to inch back within two.

Sadly, the Captains simply ran out of time as Washington and Lee controlled the ensuing draw and stalled for the final two minutes to lock up the win.

Overall, the Generals held a 28-16 advantage in shots and a 15-12 edge in ground balls. The squad also secured 16 of the game's 24 draws. On an individual level, Guidi and Jackson both collected three draw controls for the Captains, while Rozgonyi scooped up four ground balls.

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