NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Behind a second-half offensive explosion and a 60-minute defensive masterpiece, the seventh-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team kicked off the 2024 campaign with a 4-0 victory over Denison on a gorgeous Friday evening at Jennings Family Stadium.

Headlining the squad's offensive efforts, Caroline Hughlett posted a goal and two assists, while Maddison Steele, Lindsey Loar, and Emily Evans also found the back of the cage. Tormenting the Big Red throughout the contest, the Captains uncorked 31 shots and secured 15 penalty corners to keep the pressure on Denison's defensive unit.

On the other end of the field, Christopher Newport suffocated the competition. The hosts did not surrender a single shot, marking just the third time since 2019 that an opponent was completely silenced.

In addition to her work on the defensive side of the ball, senior Katie Abendschoen registered an assist on the game's final tally. That was her 50th career point, making her the 19th player in program history to reach that benchmark.

The victory was Christopher Newport's fourth straight win in a season opener and the program's sixth consecutive triumph against Denison.

In a battle featuring two teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2023, CNU quickly set the tone. On the defensive end, Brooke Billhimer intercepted a feed at midfield before winning control of a dangerous bouncer that slipped into the circle during an early rush by the visitors.

After rebuffing Denison's advances, Christopher Newport had an opportunity to break through in the fifth minute. Securing back-to-back corners, the Captains put the ball on cage, but Hughlett's rapid-fire assault was stymied on the first attempt, while a missile off Abendschoen's stick was kicked away on the second try.

Although Denison tried to clear the zone, the hosts kept the ball planted on the offensive side. Evans picked off a pass and worked her way through a pair of defenders before Ellie Nuckols forced an errant feed along the left sideline, which was quickly gobbled up by Courtney Hughlett. Later, Lainey Pratzner helped stamp out a surge near midfield to keep the Big Red quiet entering the second quarter.

With a fresh 15 minutes on the clock, Christopher Newport continued to shine on the defensive side. Riley Iasiello intercepted an aerial near midfield before Morgan Shealer stepped up with a tremendous surge. The freshman punched a ball away near midfield to kill off a clear attempt. Later, after an attacker slipped free along the right sideline, she caught up to the play and silenced the rally before anything could develop.

Shortly thereafter, Denison generated a penalty corner, but Iasiello handled the threat. Storming out of the cage as the flyer, she applied immediate pressure at the top of the circle to prevent an initial shot. Although the attacker pulled to her left, Iasiello stopped on a dime, cut back, and forced an off-kilter feed, which ended the play.

With time ticking down in the first half, CNU brushed aside one last push by the visitors. Billhimer broke up a bouncer before Shealer jumped a passing lane and deflected a feed while playing tight defense near midfield. Later, Pratzner stayed on the hip of a streaker along the right side to finish off the first-half shutout.

In the third period, the Captains found their footing on the offensive end. Just two minutes into the second half, CNU secured a corner. Following a beautiful insert from Pratzner, Abendschoen shuffled the ball over to Courtney Hughlett, who unleashed a laser from the top of the arc. Dealing with traffic on the inside, Caroline Hughlett deflected the blast around the keeper for the game's first goal.

Incredibly, the strike marked the first Hughlett-to-Hughlett connection since the twins arrived on campus last fall.

With a lead, CNU continued to search for more. A lengthy rocket from Abendschoen caught the right pipe, while a diving play by Courtney Hughlett was snuffed out on the interior. Later, Delaney Norr pieced together a remarkable run to steal possession off the stick of a defender before circling through a crowd. Unfortunately, her ensuing shot was deflected just inside the arc.

Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the field, Abendschoen wrestled possession away from a pair of midfielders with two minutes left in the period. Then, with mere seconds remaining in the third quarter, she intercepted another pass and worked her way through a horde to close out the stanza.

In the fourth quarter, Christopher Newport's attack stole the show. Early on, Caroline Hughlett punched a feed into the circle. Eventually, the roller found its way to Steele, who hammered a one-timer along the right post to grab a 2-0 lead.

Just over two minutes later, after Julia Oleyar broke up a run along the left sideline, Hughlett added her second straight assist. This time, she sidestepped a defender at the top of the circle before shuffling a feed to Loar. With a player on her back, the second-year star pulled to her left and fired a rope past the keeper for her first goal of the season.

With little left to prove, CNU added one final punctuation mark in the 52nd minute. Off a corner, Abendschoen settled the insert at the top of the zone before sending a feed into the circle. Taking advantage, Evans redirected the ball on the interior for the game's final tally.

Lily Kerr earned the victory after registering her 12th career shutout. Meanwhile, Abendschoen and Billhimer played all 60 minutes. The game was the 57th consecutive start for both seniors, moving them past former legend Brittan Muir for the ninth-longest "Iron Man" streak in school history.

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