Delaney Norr
Sydney Smith
1
Messiah MESSIAH (1-3)
2
Winner Chris. Newport CNU (4-0)
Messiah MESSIAH
(1-3)
1
Final
2
Chris. Newport CNU
(4-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Messiah MESSIAH 0 0 0 1 1
Chris. Newport CNU 1 0 0 1 2

Game Recap: Field Hockey |

Norr Strikes Early, Abendschoen Lands Final Blow as No. 6 CNU Field Hockey Takes Down Messiah, 2-1

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Behind an early goal from Delaney Norr and some fourth-quarter heroics by Kendall Gibson and Katie Abendschoen, the sixth-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team took down Messiah, 2-1, during an edge-of-your-seat thriller on Saturday afternoon at Mary Washington's Battleground Turf Field.

After Norr opened the scoring in the 15th minute, Abendschoen gave the Captains some breathing room with a second-chance strike off a corner late in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, on the defensive end, Gibson came through with a momentum-turning defensive save in the final stanza, while Lily Kerr pocketed three clutch stops of her own to quiet the high-powered Messiah attack.

Prior to the Falcons' lone goal with 44 seconds remaining in regulation, Kerr extended her season-opening shutout streak to 232 consecutive minutes. That marked the second-longest stretch to start a year in program history, trailing only Elexa Nosonchuk's 425-minute run in 2007.

Abendschoen and Brooke Billhimer also added their names to the history books. Saturday's contest marked the 60th consecutive start for both standouts. Previously, only three other Captains had ever reached that "Iron Man" mark. In that exclusive club, they placed their names alongside Christopher Newport Hall of Famers Jacque Mayer and Marlene Lichty as well as longtime legend Shelby Judkins.

The victory bumped Christopher Newport to 4-0 on the season and marked the program's first ever triumph over Messiah. A perennial power, the Falcons opened the 2024 campaign ranked fifth in the nation after making a run to the third round of last year's NCAA Tournament.

In the opening moments of the first quarter, Messiah served as the aggressor, but Christopher Newport kept a tight lid on the opposition. Lainey Pratzner had a strip along the right sideline, Avery Mast forced a pair of errant passes near the left boundary, and Courtney Hughlett picked off a dangerous roller along the arc. Later, Billhimer flipped the script and threaded a long ball up the turf that sliced through multiple defenders and found its way to Emily Evans. Looking to capitalize, CNU secured back-to-back corners, but Pratzner had a deflection turned away by a defender on the doorstep before Maddison Steele had a rope kicked away by the keeper.

Trading rallies, Messiah went back on the attack as a bouncer skipped into the circle. With a Falcon on the loose, Gibson bolted over and grabbed the ball before any damage could be done. Shortly thereafter, Morgan Shealer intercepted a clear attempt and turned the tables with a quick feed to Steele, who burst up the turf.

Although Messiah pushed back against CNU's initial surge, the Captains continued to press. Eventually, Steele grabbed possession of a deflection between three defenders at the top of the circle. In tight quarters, she chipped the ball past a fourth Falcon before Norr did the rest. After taking control, the senior snapped off a sliding spinner from her knees, which cut past a defender and the keeper for her first goal of the season.

Staring at a 1-0 deficit entering the second period, Messiah tried to pull even with sustained pressure. The team picked up two straight corners, but Kerr stoned the first rip before Caroline Hughlett helped force an off-target blast on the second attempt. Later, Shealer won a race for a roller in the right corner, while Abendschoen put on a masterclass along the circle. The senior dipped low and blockaded back-to-back runs before Gibson picked the pockets of a third attacker along the left side of the zone. 

Still pushing forward, Messiah earned four more corners during a two-minute window later in the stanza. Holding firm against the onslaught, Ellie Nuckols cut off an open look on an early attempt, while Billhimer came through with a diving play on the interior to break up a deep pass along the end line. Then, Norr cleared the zone with a lengthy sprint up the right sideline before uncorking a laser that was gobbled up by the goalie.

Although Messiah kept marching forward, the Captains never gave an inch. Steele won a battle with a pair of midfielders, while Lindsey Loar orchestrated an acrobatic clear up the left sideline after winding her way through multiple defenders. Moments later, CNU was hit with a card, but Shealer came through with a shorthanded strip in the right corner to help silence a last-second rally before the break.

Searching for the equalizer, Messiah struggled to find an opening in the third quarter despite controlling possession for much of the period. Early on, Pratzner broke up a quick rush before blasting the ball up the turf to Norr, who flipped the field while outracing a defender. Then, Gibson had an interception along the left sideline before Caroline Hughlett wrestled possession away on the interior following a deep drive by the Falcons.

After the Captains were slapped with a second card, CNU was saddled with another shorthanded situation, but the defense handled the pressure with ease. Abendschoen had a pick along the edge of the arc, while Billhimer blocked a bouncer along the right post. Although Messiah earned a corner, Kerr made a slick kick save to stone an on-target tracer before Gibson stripped an attacker and sent her tumbling to the turf to clean up the threat.

With time winding down in the third, Abendschoen stamped out another run up the center before sending a feed to Riley Iasiello, who escorted the roller up the right side of the turf to kill off the final seconds of the period.

Still clutching a 1-0 advantage, Christopher Newport kept calm on the defensive end of the field. With 15 minutes left on the clock, Billhimer won possession of a risky roller that slipped into the circle before weaving through three Falcons to escort the ball out of harm's way. Then, after Kerr came through with a sliding stop to stone a second surge, Gibson added the defensive play of the game.

On a corner in the 50th minute, Messiah sliced a long pass towards the right post. With a Falcon stationed along the pipe, the squad had a clean look at the cage, but Gibson walled off the end line and broke up a pointblank blast to kill off the rally with her first career defensive save.

After surviving the scare, the Captains flipped the field as Evans slipped behind the defense and got loose on a breakaway. Although Messiah handled the initial rush and the ensuing corner attempt, CNU kept control. The Hughlett twins both had an interception along the right boundary before Christopher Newport picked up another corner in the 54th minute.

Following a perfect insert from Pratzner, Billhimer unleashed a missile from the top of the circle. Although the Falcons blocked the shot, Abendschoen corralled the rebound and whistled a one-timer from the left side for a 2-0 lead.

WIth the game slipping out-of-reach, Messiah attempted a late rally. Early on, Billhimer handled a dangerous deflection inside the arc, while Gibson blocked another shot along the right post during a scrum in the 57th minute. Shortly thereafter, Pratzner stayed on the hip of an attacker and forced a low-percentage prayer along the end line, while Kerr made a diving stop to stymie a redirection on the inside.

With less than a minute left in regulation, the Falcons converted a penalty stroke to inch back within one. However, CNU never let Messiah get any closer. Keeping possession, Shealer did magical work along the right sideline as the freshman backed down a pair of Falcons and kept her composure in tight quarters while cutting off the final few seconds.

During the contest, Christopher Newport held a modest 13-11 edge in shots, while Messiah had an 11-4 advantage in corners.

Following three straight games on the road, the Captains will return home on September 20 for a 4 p.m. showdown with Ohio Wesleyan at Jennings Family Stadium.

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