COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- After guiding the Christopher Newport field hockey team to a record-setting 2025 campaign, eight Captains secured All-Region honors, while six standouts picked up first-team citations from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association on Wednesday morning.

Headlining the honorees, Caroline Hughlett, Courtney Hughlett, Lily Kerr, Lindsey Loar, Avery Mast, and Kelly Via all garnered a spot on the first-team squad. Meanwhile, Emily Evans and Kendall Gibson earned second-team accolades for their efforts in 2025.

Overall, the eight All-Region honorees marked the highest total in program history, topping the six award-winners from last year. Additionally, the six first-team selections eclipsed the previous record of four set in 2023.

On an individual level, Kerr became just the 10th Captain to earn three All-Region awards. In that exclusive club, she joined a list of legends led by CNU Hall of Famers Caitlin Cahill, Marlene Lichty, and Jacque Mayer along with former stars Abby Asuncion, Brianna Milne, Brittan Muir, Brooke Billhimer, Courtney Fiest, and Haylie Black.

Along with Kerr, the Hughlett twins both earned their second straight first-team citation, while the other five Captains were recognized for the first time.

One of the most lethal offensive standouts in school history, Evans capped off her tenure with an electric senior campaign. During the fall, the fourth-year phenom averaged over a point per contest while establishing new career-highs with 10 goals and 22 total points. Starting all 20 games, she produced a pair of multi-goal efforts and notched at least two points on eight occasions. Meanwhile, she led the team with a .233 shooting percentage, which was the highest by a Captain with at least 10 goals since 2013. 

Piecing together an epic run early in the year, Evans became just the fourth Captain to score a game-winning goal in three straight contests after landing the clinching blow against Washington and Lee on September 7, Virginia Wesleyan on September 10, and Ohio Wesleyan on September 13. Stepping up in clutch situations throughout the year, she also sank the second-half equalizer in a win at No. 10 Stevens on September 28 and opened the scoring in a triumph over No. 17 Lynchburg in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on November 15.

A stabilizing presence on the nation's top-ranked defensive unit, Gibson returned to her perch on the back line and orchestrated another award-winning campaign. One of the squad's most dependable standouts, she ranked fourth among field players with 1,128 minutes of action while playing 60 or more on nine occasions, including all three postseason games. During her time on the field, she helped anchor a unit that led the country in scoring defense with a 0.39 goals-against-average, which marked the ninth-finest in Division III history.

On an individual level, Gibson produced two momentum-turning defensive saves in a pair of 1-0 victories early in the year. Keeping the opposition off the scoreboard, she turned away on-target attempts during wins over Washington and Lee on September 7 and Messiah on September 20. Meanwhile, the junior juggernaut blocked six additional shots during the year, including a pair of fourth-quarter deflections against No. 5 Johns Hopkins on August 31 and another one in the NCAA Final Four against No. 6 Tufts on November 21.

Flashing her versatility throughout the fall, Caroline Hughlett put together another well-rounded campaign. During her third year with the Captains, she registered seven goals and established a new career-high with nine assists, which placed her in the top-50 on the national charts. She also remained one of the country's leading producers on penalty strokes, draining all three of her attempts while adding another successful conversion on a make-or-break try during an overtime shootout with Messiah on September 20.

Among her other highlights, Hughlett handed out four assists against Bridgewater on August 29, which equaled the second-highest total by a Captain. She also landed a pair of strikes against St. Mary's (Md.) on October 22 and was at the center of two of the biggest goals in program history. Shining under the bright lights, she sank a last-second double-overtime dagger against No. 3 Salisbury on October 8 before coming back with an assist on the clincher against the nationally-ranked Sea Gulls on November 16, which vaulted CNU into the Final Four.

Rewriting the record books while staking her claim as the finest facilitator in program history, Courtney Hughlett added another remarkable chapter to her award-winning career. The reigning All-American set a new single-season school record with 15 assists, which marked the fifth-most by any player in the NCAA in 2025. Aided by that effort, she also wrapped up the year as CNU's career leader with 34 helpers. Just as effective as a finisher, she set a new career-high with six goals in the fall while securing 27 total points.

Making the most of her time on the field, Hughlett collected at least one point in 13 of her appearances. She opened the season with back-to-back multi-goal eruptions against Bridgewater on August 29 and No. 5 Johns Hopkins on August 31. Meanwhile, she assisted on seven game-winning goals, including the overtime clincher against No. 17 Lynchburg on November 15 in the NCAA Tournament. A defensive dynamo as well, the junior led CNU with 10 blocked shots, including six as a member of the penalty corner crew.

Punctuating her tenure as the most decorated goalkeeper in school history, Kerr added a fitting final chapter to her storybook career. During her senior campaign, she led the NCAA with a 0.37 goals-against-average, which was the 13th-best mark in Division III history. Additionally, she slotted third on the national charts with a stellar .870 save percentage while establishing a new school standard with nine 60-minute shutouts. Overall, she pocketed 47 saves and did not allow a goal during 15 of her 20 appearances.

Headlining her work during the year, Kerr posted six saves and made four additional stops during an overtime shootout in a marathon 1-0 win over Messiah on September 20. She also notched five saves in a pair of nationally-ranked triumphs over No. 5 Johns Hopkins on August 31 and No. 3 Salisbury on October 8. For her work in the latter contest, she was celebrated as the NFHCA National Defensive Player of the Week on October 15, making her the first player in Division III lore to earn the prestigious honor three times.

Solidifying her spot as one of the preeminent offensive threats in the entire NCAA, Loar established new career-highs in nearly every statistical category during an outstanding junior season. During her third year with the program, she deposited 14 goals, which placed her in the top-50 on the national charts and equaled the eighth-most in school history. She also added four assists while finishing with a team-high 32 points. Meanwhile, her five game-winning goals matched the third-most by any Captain in program lore.

Scoring in bunches, Loar became just the sixth player in school history with multiple hat-tricks in a single season after landing three blows against Rhodes on October 5 and No. 14 Rowan on October 25. Overall, she secured at least two points in 10 of her appearances, including four duels against top-25 competition. Later in the year, she added one of the most memorable goals in CNU history after banging home the overtime clincher against No. 17 Lynchburg in the national playoffs on November 15, which earned her a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament Team.

Building upon a dynamite debut campaign, Mast was even more impressive throughout a sensational sophomore season. A mainstay on the field, the reigning Virginia State Rookie of the Year played at least 60 minutes in nine of her appearances, including all three postseason games. A well-rounded contributor, she chipped in with 14 points after notching three goals and a career-high eight assists. Meanwhile, on the back end, she ranked fourth on the team with five blocked shots while adding a defensive save at Montclair State on September 27.

Unfazed by top-flight foes, Mast drove home the opening goal against No. 3 Salisbury on October 8 and the game-winner at No. 11 Williams on October 12. Those efforts came after she exploded for three points in a win over No. 5 Johns Hopkins on August 31. Additionally, on the defensive side, she was equally effective against nationally-ranked competition. Three of her blocked shots came in top-25 showdowns, including a huge stop that silenced a first-half rush by No. 17 Lynchburg in the national playoffs on November 15.

After being sidelined with an injury during her debut campaign last fall, Via quickly recovered and solidified her spot as one of the top up-and-coming standouts in the country during her sophomore season. Stepping into a starting role as a centerpiece on the back line, she led Christopher Newport with 1,183 minutes of action. Rarely leaving the field, she played at least 60 minutes in 14 games, including every second in eight of the team's nine top-25 tilts. Her efforts helped CNU post 14 shutouts while boasting the country's top-ranked scoring defense.

A reliable presence throughout the year, Via saved some of her finest work for the biggest stage. In the NCAA Elite Eight on November 17, she blocked a pair of shots during a 1-0 win over No. 5 Salisbury, including the Sea Gulls' final attempt of the contest in the 58th minute. Contributing all over the field, she also added nine points, including three game-winning goals. She converted both of her attempts during the shootout against Messiah on September 20 and added the final strike in a win at No. 10 Stevens on September 28.

Aided by the work of the All-Region honorees, Christopher Newport advanced to the Final Four for the second time in school history while finishing the year with a 19-1 record. Along the way, the Captains spent seven weeks ranked first in the NFHCA National Coaches Poll, including six as the unanimous top team in the country.

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