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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Locking up a spot in the NCAA Semifinals for the second time in school history, the top-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team punched its ticket to the Final Four after knocking off No. 5 Salisbury, 1-0, during an edge-of-your-seat thriller on a sun-soaked Sunday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.

Following a grueling defensive battle over the first three quarters, the Captains found some daylight off a corner in the 50th minute to land the game's lone goal. Fittingly, Caroline Hughlett and Riley Iasiello teamed up on the clinching blow. Just over a month after Iasiello set up Hughlett for the double-overtime game-winner against the same Salisbury squad in a regular-season marathon on October 8, Hughlett returned the favor on Sunday.

On the play, the junior collected a no-look, behind-the-back flip from her twin sister before lacing a seed towards the right post. Battling on the interior with a defender and the goalie, Iasiello deflected the rip through the crowd for her third game-winning tally of the year.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the field, Christopher Newport locked down the high-powered Salisbury attack. Despite facing an opponent that entered Sunday ranked fifth in the NCAA in scoring offense with a 4.19 goals-per-game average, the Captains posted their 14th shutout of the year. That snapped Salisbury's streak of 34 consecutive contests with at least one goal dating back to last season.

During the game, CNU surrendered only nine total shots, while Lily Kerr handled each of the four on-target attempts to finish off her ninth 60-minute shutout of the year. It also marked the senior goalkeeper's 64th career victory, equaling the seventh-highest total in NCAA Division III history.

Along with Kerr's work between the pipes, Kelly Via blocked a pair of shots during the contest, including a fantastic stab late in the fourth quarter. Courtney Hughlett also deflected a blast in the second stanza in addition to her highlight-reel efforts on the offensive side of the ball.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improved to 19-0 and secured a spot in the Final Four for the first time since 2013. On the other side, Salisbury wrapped up its season with a 19-3 record.

Entering the fourth quarter after 45 minutes of scoreless action, the Captains went right to work in the final stanza. Following an initial push by the visitors, Avery Mast flipped the field with a 50-yard missile that blew past four Sea Gulls before settling at the offensive 25. Although Salisbury took control for a brief moment, Ellie Nuckols quickly won possession and found Emily Evans, who carried the ball into the right corner.

Setting up shop on the offensive end, CNU tested Salisbury with a sustained attack. Early on, Courtney Hughlett wiggled her way through three defenders before playing the ball off a fourth Sea Gull inside the circle. Although the Captains were unable to capitalize on the ensuing penalty corner, Christopher Newport never let the visitors clear midfield.

Keeping the ball on the offensive side, Mast picked off an aerial, Via intercepted a long hit near the center stripe, and Lindsey Loar ripped a roller off the stick of a Sea Gull near the left sideline. With control, Loar burst up the field and fired a knuckler into the circle, which caught the defense off-guard and led to another corner.

With a second opportunity, CNU found an opening. Following an insert by Nuckols, Courtney Hughlett stopped the feed at the top of the zone while drawing Salisbury's flyer towards the right side of the arc. On the move, the reigning All-American connected with her sister after breaking out her patented, behind-the-back, no-look pass.

After securing the feed, Caroline Hughlett split two Sea Gulls with a dagger towards the right post. On the interior, Iasiello stepped in front of the goalie and a defender while battling for position. Gaining just enough space, the junior found a window, dipped low, and deflected the ball through the crowd while getting dragged to the turf. Eventually, her touch sent the spinner into the back of the cage for the game's only goal.

With a lead, Christopher Newport settled in on the defensive side. During Salisbury's initial response, Courtney Hughlett rode an attacker out of bounds in the right corner before Loar and Evans broke up a rush along the 25. Then, Via stayed on the hip of a Sea Gull and applied tight pressure as the attacker lost her footing on a dangerous cut with seven minutes left in regulation.

Later in the stanza, Morgan Shealer made a nice play to gobble up a bouncer inside the arc before Kerr came through with a kick save on a worm-burner in the 57th minute. Shortly thereafter, another Sea Gull tried to chip a shot from the left side of the circle, but Via stayed calm on the interior. Showcasing elite stick skills, the second-year star intercepted the high-rising rocket before working the ball out of harm's way.

With two minutes left on the clock, Nuckols found Evans with a pinpoint pass up the right sideline, which helped cut off crucial seconds. Although Salisbury returned to the offensive end, Mast disrupted a surge in the right corner before Loar stripped a Sea Gull in the same spot. Then, in a wild sequence with 40 seconds remaining in regulation, Mast was driven to the ground during a physical altercation along the right boundary. In the midst of the collision, she lost her shoe and accidentally swapped sticks with her opponent as play continued.

Unfazed by the situation, Mast quickly jumped back to her feet, threw on her shoe, and gained possession of an aerial from Courtney Hughlett while still using the wrong stick.

Moments later, with only three seconds left on the clock, Caroline Hughlett took the ball and floated it over four Sea Gulls to kill off the final few ticks and lock up the hard-fought victory.

During the contest, Christopher Newport held a 6-1 advantage in corners, while Salisbury had a slim 9-7 lead in shots.

Long before the fourth-quarter highlights, the two teams put on a defensive clinic at the start of regulation. In the opening stanza, Salisbury orchestrated a threat in the fourth minute with a sprint straight down the center of the field. Trailing the play, Courtney Hughlett put her speed on display as she tracked down the Sea Gull and stole the ball from behind to end the rally.

Later, Christopher Newport was forced to play shorthanded after getting hit with a card in the 13th minute. Stepping up, Nuckols won a huge one-on-one duel after coming through with a textbook tackle along the left edge of the arc. Then, Via grabbed a looping feed in the left corner before Evans took the ball while blanketed by three Sea Gulls. With little room to work while pinned to the sideline, she kept possession long enough to prevent Salisbury from mounting another rally before the end of the quarter.

In the second period, the visitors put together another surge that led to a penalty corner in the 19th minute. Refusing to back down, Courtney Hughlett pressured the shooter on the left side of the circle before Kerr made a leaping save to block an elevated laser. Although Salisbury retained possession, Shealer sealed off the right post and forced a second-chance opportunity to clank off the side of the cage.

Shortly thereafter, the Captains earned a corner of their own and nearly converted. On the play, Mast launched a hammer from the top of the arc, but Salisbury's goalie made the save. Recovering the rebound, Via smacked a one-timer that was blocked by a defender before Iasiello had a point-blank shot turned away along the right post.

Still marching forward, Brylee Johnston raced towards the cage but just missed collecting a slip from Evans, while Mast had a long hit that skipped past the left pipe.

Trading runs, Salisbury unloaded a pair of shots at the tail end of the first half, but Via blocked a turnaround attempt in traffic before Courtney Hughlett bottled up a rip just before the break.

After halftime, Christopher Newport continued its defensive wizardry. Kendall Gibson drove an attacker across the baseline on an early surge by the visitors. On a second rush, Mast secured a pair of bouncers along the right sideline before flipping the field with a lengthy aerial to Nuckols, who was stationed along the opposite boundary.

Looking to capitalize, Courtney Hughlett rifled a ball to Iasiello, who drew a corner. Later, Gigi Stephan worked her way through three Sea Gulls while breaking into the circle during a long push from the left corner, but the Captains came away empty-handed.

After Salisbury regained possession, Courtney Hughlett broke up an entry pass along the right baseline before Via added a tremendous tackle near the opposite boundary to prevent a dangerous 2-on-1 from developing in the 42nd minute. Although the Sea Gulls eventually worked their way into the circle, Kerr punted a low liner before blocking an elevated heater with a slick pad save.

Then, just before the horn sounded, Courtney Hughlett pushed back against a rally along the end line, while Kate Engle knocked down a deflection inside the circle before chasing an attacker into the right corner, which ended the period.

Following the defensive highlights over the first three quarters, Christopher Newport capitalized on the other end as Iasiello ended the scoreless deadlock in the 50th minute to provide all the offense CNU would need to earn a return trip to the Final Four.

The Captains will be back in action on November 21 with a semifinal showdown against No. 6 Tufts at Robin L. Sheppard Field in Hartford, Connecticut.

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