NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Behind two early goals and another defensive masterpiece, the sixth-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team toppled No. 9 York (Pa.), 2-1, during a top-10 thriller on a cloud-covered Sunday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.
Playing in front of a raucous crowd featuring hundreds of their fellow student-athletes,
Caroline Hughlett and
Katie Abendschoen got the fans on their feet early with a pair of first-half daggers, which gave the Captains a 2-1 edge entering halftime. Fortunately, the one-goal advantage was all CNU needed as the hosts made six saves in the second half, including a highlight-reel stop by
Brooke Billhimer in the third quarter
In addition to her defensive save, Billhimer also assisted on Abendschoen's game-winning goal in the first half. With that performance, she became just the 10th player in program history to record an assist and save in the same game. Meanwhile, she joined former teammate Marcella Sabbagh and longtime standouts Shelby Judkins and Breanne Lowe as the only Captains to accomplish that feat against a top-10 foe.
Lily Kerr also added five saves for the victors, including a pair of clutch stops in the fourth quarter. That marked her ninth career appearance with at least five saves and her sixth against a nationally-ranked opponent.
With the victory, Christopher Newport improved to 6-0 on the season, while the setback dropped York (Pa.) to 6-2.
Controlling possession in the early part of the contest, CNU quickly tested York's defensive unit. Off a corner attempt in the fifth minute,
Maddison Steele had a turnaround tracer kicked away by the keeper, while
Lindsey Loar had two shots brushed aside along the left post. Moments later, the Spartans tried to clear the zone while working the ball towards the left side of the field, but
Delaney Norr had other plans.
Creating havoc on the interior, the senior found herself isolated with two defenders. Bolting into the circle, she quickly grabbed a deflection off the stick of a Spartan before drawing a foul, which earned CNU a penalty stroke.
Taking the free shot, Hughlett threaded a one-timer between the goalie and the left post for a fast 1-0 lead.
Staring at a deficit, the visitors attempted to respond but struggled to find their footing. Abendschoen broke up York's initial response with an interception along the defensive 25. Shortly thereafter,
Ellie Nuckols knocked down a bouncer along the left edge of the arc, while Hughlett gobbled up a pair of dribblers that slipped inside the circle.
Still pressuring in the final minute of the first quarter, York sent a long ball up the field with two streakers breaking past the defense. Unfazed by the pressure,
Kendall Gibson won the footrace for the roller before blasting it back up the field to kill the final threat of the stanza.
Battling back, the Spartans eventually broke through early in the second quarter to knot the score at one in the 17th minute.
Back on even ground, Christopher Newport did not allow York to capitalize on the momentum. Although the visitors secured another corner just a few moments later, Nuckols applied pressure to a shooter at the top of the arc and forced a rip to sail wide. Later, on a return trip by the Spartans, Billhimer came through with a slick tackle on the interior, while
Lainey Pratzner swallowed up a rally in the right corner.
Looking to flip the field, Norr outran three midfielders following a quick restart before York's last line of defense slowed down her sprint. Moments later,
Courtney Hughlett slipped a feed to
Riley Iasiello, who had the Spartans on their heels with a quick cut along the left side of the turf.
While the visitors held up against CNU's advances in the middle of the period, the Captains never relented. With time winding down in the first half, Christopher Newport earned three straight corners in the span of 30 seconds. Although YCP brushed aside the first two attempts, the hosts found some daylight on the third try.
In the 29th minute,
Caroline Hughlett sent the insert to Billhimer, who drew attention at the top of the circle. With the defense closing in, she shuffled a feed to Abendschoen, who settled into an open pocket on the left side of the zone. Facing a wall of players between her and the cage, the senior elevated a shot that sailed past the outstretched sticks of the goalie and a second defender before dropping into the goal for the go-ahead strike.
Still looking for more, the Captains nearly extended their lead just before the clock expired following an incredible showcase by
Courtney Hughlett. After Abendschoen disrupted a clear attempt, Hughlett carved her way through three midfielders and drew a foul. On the ensuing free hit, she scampered into the circle, collected a deflection, broke down a pair of defenders, and fired a backhand past the goalie. Unfortunately, a Spartan was able to make a last-second stick save on the endline to punch away the on-target rope.
After the break, the visitors did everything they could to knot the score at two. Less than a minute into the third quarter, York picked up a penalty corner, but Kerr made a lunging save to stone a worm-burner. Following another attempt in the 37th minute, Billhimer flashed her stick skills after erasing a screamer on the doorstep with her ninth career defensive save.
Continuing the defensive mastery, Billhimer came back with a sliding tackle along the right edge of the circle, while Kerr batted away two straight rips on back-to-back corners. Later, Pratzner boxed out a pair of attackers and intercepted a pass along the right side of the zone, Steele knocked down an aerial, and Abendschoen swiped possession before flipping the ball off the foot of a Spartan to kill off a threat in the 41st minute.
Looking to turn the tide,
Caroline Hughlett completed a clear up the right sideline while handing the ball back to the attack. Hoping to capitalize, Iasiello came through with a diving dart on an acrobatic play along the interior, but York's goalie made a sprawling save to stymie the play. Shortly thereafter, CNU picked up four straight penalty corners, but the Spartans survived the scare to keep their deficit at one entering the final stanza.
With 15 minutes left in regulation, York picked up the pressure early in the fourth quarter. Pushing back against the assault, Billhimer won a race for a roller that nearly sprung a breakaway before disrupting a pass in the right corner during a shorthanded situation. Although York was eventually awarded two consecutive corners, the Captains stood tall.
On the Spartans' first attempt, Kerr made another sliding stop to kick away a dangerous shot. Then, on the second try, Nuckols put on a show. Serving as the flyer, she bolted out of the cage and blocked a laser at the top of the arc. Although York collected the deflection, Nuckols stayed on the hip of a second attacker and forced an errant pass, which ended the rally.Â
After Kerr came back with her final save of the contest during a one-on-one showdown along the left post,
Courtney Hughlett beat a midfielder to a long roller and sent it spinning up the turf. Trying to extend the lead, Steele quickly blasted a bullet into the circle. On the other end, Norr won a fight for possession before hurdling the goalie. Unfortunately, she was tackled on the interior before the ball slipped across the line.
Although the Captains were turned away on the doorstep, Pratzner took control, marched into the left corner, and went to work on the clock. With two defenders draped on her back attempting to steal possession, the senior stayed calm and sliced over a minute off the scoreboard.
With time on CNU's side,
Caroline Hughlett eliminated a clear attempt up the left sideline in the 58th minute before her sister killed off another run just moments later. Then, with mere seconds left on the clock, Loar chopped the ball away from a midfielder before Pratzner blocked a long hit along the right boundary to seal the victory.
Overall, CNU held a 20-9 advantage in shots and a 10-8 lead in corners.Â
Christopher Newport will return to action on September 28 when the team travels to Poughkeepsie, New York for an 11:30 a.m. test at Vassar.
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