HAVERFORD, Pa. -- Showcasing a well-balanced attack, which saw seven different players record at least one point, the seventh-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team toppled Haverford, 4-1, on Sunday afternoon at Swan Field.

Continuing her scoring streak, Emily Evans added her third goal of the year. With that performance, she became just the fifth player in program history to open a season with a strike in three straight contests. Shannon Lia and CNU Hall of Famer Wendy Wilson both accomplished the feat in 2001. Meanwhile, Lauren Cheatham had a four-game surge to open the 2013 campaign, and All-American Courtney Fiest matched that roll in 2018.

Along with Evans, Avery Mast wrapped up her homecoming with a perfect punctuation mark. Coupled with her game-winning goal against No. 18 Franklin & Marshall on Saturday, the Pennsylvania native opened the scoring for the second straight day in the Keystone State. Meanwhile, Maddison Steele completed a highlight-reel breakaway in the third quarter, while Sierra Pratzner landed the game's final blow with her first collegiate goal.

In addition to the offensive stars, Brooke Billhimer and Ellie Nuckols both blocked shots against the Fords, while Lily Kerr picked up the victory with 54 minutes of spotless action between the pipes. The win was Kerr's 32nd career triumph, tying Emma Stout for the second-most in school history.

Although Haverford scored in the 57th minute, Christopher Newport's defense extended its season-opening shutout streak to 176 minutes prior to that tally. That was CNU's longest scoreless streak to start a season since the NCAA switched to 15-minute quarters. It was also the third-longest in program history, trailing only the 2014 and 2017 squads.

With the win, the Captains improved to 3-0 on the season, while the setback dropped Haverford to 2-1.

Early on, both squads starred on the defensive end during a quiet first quarter. Neither team generated a shot over the first 15 minutes as the back lines blanketed the field. For the Captains, Billhimer bottled up a lengthy run down the center of the turf, while Lainey Pratzner ate up a rally in the right corner. Shortly thereafter, during a penalty corner by the hosts, Nuckols burst out of the cage and created just enough pressure at the top of the circle to force an errant pass.

Continuing to shine in the second stanza, Billhimer stamped out a surge along the left sideline, while Caroline Hughlett flashed her stick skills with an interception on a low-liner in the right corner on a failed clear by Haverford. Moments later, Katie Abendschoen also plucked an aerial away from the hosts to keep the ball planted on the offensive end.

Looking to capitalize, Steele gained possession, cut around a defender, and ripped a rocket that was blocked by the keeper. Moments later, Delaney Norr took control near midfield, weaved her way through four defenders, burst into the circle, and secured a corner after slamming a spinner off the foot of a fifth Ford. Unfortunately, Haverford came away unscathed and kept the score knotted at zero.

Meanwhile, on the other end, Christopher Newport kept a tight lid on the hosts. Playing shorthanded after getting hit with a card, Kendall Gibson stayed in front of an attacker who attempted to slip inside the arc. Eventually, she pinned the player against the end line and forced her out-of-bounds to kill the rally.

Still searching for the game's first goal, the Captains applied consistent pressure during the waning moments of the second quarter. Kicking things off, Abendschoen carved up a pair of defenders, squeezed through a double-team, and found a seam while breaking into the circle. Soon after, CNU took advantage of the pressure and secured five consecutive corners during a two-minute window.

Although the Fords were remarkably resilient and held up against the initial surge, Courtney Hughlett made them pay. Hustling around the field, she tracked down a roller that nearly slipped across the right sideline while winning a footrace against three Fords. Seconds later, after the Captains picked up their fifth corner, she chased down a deflection off the insert nearly 20 yards from the cage.

After grabbing the ball, Hughlett unloaded a blast that pin-balled through a series of defenders inside the circle. Eventually, the ball found its way to Mast's stick. After settling the bouncer, she quickly punched it around the keeper to snatch a 1-0 lead entering halftime.

Following the break, Christopher Newport stretched its advantage in the 32nd minute. Lindsey Loar stripped a midfielder and fed the ball to Caroline Hughlett. With Norr and Steele racing behind the defense, Hughlett dipped low and uncorked a pristine pass. Using the perfect combination of pace and precision, she threaded the ball past two defenders, which generated a jailbreak.

With no one left but the goalie, Norr blazed down the field, caught up to the ball, and cut towards the cage. Feeling the pressure, the keeper came out and made a sliding tackle to stymie Norr's run. However, just before flipping head-over-heels, Norr slipped the ball to Steele, who completed the play with a tap-in for a 2-0 edge.

Facing a two-goal deficit, Haverford tried to claw back into the game, but Christopher Newport continued to clamp down. On a corner attempt, Nuckols ripped the ball right off the stick of a shooter at the top of the arc. Later, Abendschoen stole possession on a dribbler that slipped into the circle, while Billhimer locked down the right corner on three separate rallies in the middle of the period.

Towards the end of the third quarter, after CNU was saddled with another card, Abendschoen secured a shorthanded interception before Steele disrupted a sprint up the left sideline. Then, Lainey Pratzner punctuated the period after settling down a high deflection to win possession on a dangerous threat in the 44th minute.

Still playing 10-on-11 early in the fourth quarter, Riley Iasiello cut off a run along the right boundary, while Mast won a physical confrontation with a midfielder to secure a roller in the center of the turf. 

After returning to even strength, Billhimer whistled the ball up the field in the 54th minute. Eventually, Loar took possession and faced a wall of defenders along the end line. Incredibly, she found just enough daylight to keep the ball in bounds while sending a pass to Steele. Capping off the play, Steele shuffled a feed around the keeper as Evans corralled the bouncer, loaded up, and unleashed a burner into the back of the cage.

Although Haverford responded in the 57th minute, Christopher Newport quickly shot back. Setting up one final offensive possession, Sierra Pratzner applied pressure along the left sideline and helped force a turnover before bolting up the field and settling into the left corner.

Looking for one final exclamation point, Morgan Shealer threaded a rope through three defenders. On the receiving end, Caroline Hughlett took the ball and drew a crowd. Swarmed by four Fords, the second-year star flipped a backhand pass to Pratzner. Finishing off what she helped start, the sophomore sniped a blast between the keeper and the left post for her first career goal.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 20-6 advantage in shots and a 12-3 edge in corners. Along with Kerr's work in the cage, Ella Fallen also added a save after kicking away Haverford's final on-target rip of the game.

CNU will return to action on September 14 when the Captains face No. 5 Messiah during a 1 p.m. neutral-site test at Mary Washington's Battleground Turf Field.

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