NEW PALTZ, N.Y. -- Capitalizing on a penalty stroke by Caroline Hughlett and a sensational shorthanded defensive stand in the fourth quarter, the top-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team capped off its Fall Break excursion with a 1-0 triumph over New Paltz on Tuesday morning at North Turf Field.

Providing all the offense CNU would need, Lindsey Loar earned a penalty stroke during a rush in the 42nd minute. Taking advantage of the situation, Hughlett stepped in and deposited a dart from the dot to cap off the scoring.

Along with icing the victory, Hughlett's strike marked her 20th career goal and added the junior star to an exclusive group of legendary Captains. Coupled with her 21 assists, she became just the fifth member of the program's 20-20 club, joining CNU Hall of Famer Belle Tunstall, three-time All-Region performer Haylie Black, and former All-Americans Abby Asuncion and Courtney Fiest.

While Hughlett was providing the offensive firepower on Tuesday, the defense suffocated New Paltz during another 60-minute showcase. Keeping a tight lid on the hosts, Christopher Newport surrendered just two total shots. Handling the attempts on the back end, Kendall Gibson blocked a rip in the second quarter before Courtney Hughlett forced a final try to sail high, which helped punctuate a 10-on-11 defensive stand in the fourth frame.

Putting CNU's defensive dominance into perspective, the two shots by New Paltz were the program's lowest output in a game since Montclair State held the squad to only one attempt on September 7, 2016. Meanwhile, it was also the first time the high-powered Hawks were shut out at home since an identical 1-0 setback against Cortland on October 7, 2023.

Additionally, Tuesday's game was the first time this season that the Captains prevented an opponent from generating a single penalty corner.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improved to 14-0 on the season and wrapped up a whirlwind tour. Since September 13, the Captains played games in six different states after making trips to Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New York in addition to three bouts in Virginia. For comparison, during the previous two and a half years combined, CNU appeared in only five states.

On the other side, the setback dropped New Paltz to 8-5 and snapped the team's five-game winning streak.

Although Christopher Newport controlled the pace throughout the first 40 minutes of regulation, the Captains found themselves staring at a scoreless deadlock entering the final moments of the third quarter. Needing to flip the script, the visitors struck quickly.

Stationed near midfield, Gibson gained possession of the ball and launched a 30-yard seed that sailed right past seven Hawks before landing on Loar's stick inside the arc. Pulling to her right, Loar circled around the keeper and lifted a shot that clanked off the leg of a defender and earned CNU a stroke in the 42nd minute.

Stepping to the dot, Caroline Hughlett did the rest. Taking the shot, she planted a scorcher inside the right pipe for her second penalty stroke of the year, which gave the team a 1-0 edge entering the final period.

Hoping to turn the page and steal some momentum with a fresh 15 minutes on the clock, the Hawks struggled to find their footing. During an initial push by the hosts, Morgan Shealer plucked an aerial out of the sky along the right sideline. Later, New Paltz had an attacker running behind the defense, but Gibson intercepted a long hit near midfield before it could connect with the streaker.

In the middle of the period, the visitors were hit with a yellow card and forced to play shorthanded for a crucial five-minute stretch. Despite the tenuous 10-on-11 situation, Christopher Newport never relented. Keeping the ball on the offensive end, Avery Mast picked off a pass along the left sideline, while Courtney Hughlett rejected a pair of clears in the center of the turf. Seconds later, Hughlett stormed towards the cage, spun through a crowd, and popped a shot on the doorstep, but the New Paltz goalie made a diving save.

After the Hawks cleared their defensive end, the Captains were equally efficient on the other side of the turf. Kelly Via secured a loose ball near the 25 and stayed on the hip of an attacker during a one-on-one rush to prevent a breakaway. Later, Caroline Hughlett stripped a midfielder from behind, while her sister kept tight pressure on a shooter at the top of the arc and forced a low-percentage attempt to sail past the cage, which killed off the card.

Back to even strength with time winding down in the fourth quarter, Christopher Newport polished off the shutout. First, during a dangerous run by the hosts, Courtney Hughlett caught up to a Hawk and poked the ball away. Collecting the deflection, Via sent it to Brylee Johnston, who raced into the right corner to cut time off the clock.

Later, another New Paltz attacker found some space behind the defense while in pursuit of a lengthy feed on the right side of the field. Although the Hawk had a five-yard head start, Via tracked her down, won the footrace, and collected the roller in the corner. Then, just before the horn sounded, Julia Oleyar broke up a last-ditch crosser along the arc to prevent a shot and lock up the hard-fought victory.

Long before the Captains sealed the triumph with a defensive stand in the fourth quarter, CNU controlled the tempo throughout the first three stanzas. In the first frame, the visitors kept the ball planted on the offensive end during the opening moments of regulation. On an initial run, Mast sent an aerial over three defenders. After collecting the rainbow in the left corner, Riley Iasiello served it to Loar, who fired a shot that was kicked away by the keeper.

In the fourth minute, the hosts finally cleared their defensive end, but Christopher Newport was up to the task on the back side. Courtney Hughlett picked off a pass along the arc, Mast ripped one away in the right corner, and Emily Evans stole a roller near the 25 before flipping the field with a successful clear.

Looking to capitalize on the offensive side, the Captains orchestrated an endless onslaught of scoring opportunities. Loar stormed straight up the gut, sidestepped a defender, and handcuffed the keeper with a floater from close range, but the goalie just got enough of the ball to keep it out of the cage.

Shortly thereafter, Kate Engle secured a corner after punching the ball off a Hawk, but Courtney Hughlett's shot was stymied at the top of the arc. Later, off a restart, Hughlett pieced together an incredible rally. Carving up the defense, she spun through two midfielders near the 25, circled through another pair on the interior, and drew the goalie out of the cage. Unfortunately, her ensuing rip just caught the post.

Following Hughlett's highlight-reel run, the visitors kept the ball pinned on the offensive end. Gibson stripped a midfielder along the center stripe before Via jumped between a pair of attackers to prevent a 2-on-1 rush from developing in the middle of the turf. Later, Johnston shadowed a defender in the left corner and forced an errant pass, which flipped possession again. However, New Paltz held up against the pressure and kept the game scoreless after 15 minutes.

In the second stanza, CNU continued to march forward. Early on, Mast wiggled her way through two Hawks on the right side of the zone to draw a corner. Moments later, following a scramble along the post, Evans collected a bouncer on the doorstep, but her shot was swallowed by a defender just before it crossed the line.

Later in the period, Gigi Stephan had a dart blocked near the left edge of the arc before the hosts went on the attack. Trying to steal some momentum at the end of the first half, New Paltz organized a sustained run over the final three minutes. Unfazed by the changing tide, Via closed off a push in the right corner before Gibson blocked a bullet on the interior to keep the scoreless deadlock intact.

Following the break, the Captains went back to work. Early on, Ellie Nuckols won possession of a roller near the right sideline before joining Shealer on a successful double-team, which pinched off a clear near the boundary. Trying to capitalize on the offensive side, Caroline Hughlett had a shot kicked away by the keeper before Loar had a second-chance opportunity bottled up after a corner in the 35th minute.

Shortly thereafter, Evans secured another corner after firing a fadeaway off the foot of a defender. On the ensuing play, Nuckols went to her backhand with a slick reverse from the right side, but the defense gobbled up the shot. Then, Loar dropped the goalie to the turf with a devastating cut on the inside, but her attempt was deflected by a Hawk.

Continuing the assault, Courtney Hughlett was tripped up by a defender but kept her footing, scooted towards the center, and launched a laser from the inside. Although the shot skipped past the right post, CNU retained possession. Off the restart, Hughlett dished the ball back to Gibson. Steps from the midfield line, she unleashed a long-range missile, which kicked off the fateful surge that resulted in the game-winning penalty stroke.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 28-2 advantage in shots and a 10-0 edge in corners.

After returning home, the Captains will have a well-earned respite before hosting St. Mary's (Md.) on October 22 at 6 p.m.

---ISH---