LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Starring in nearly every facet of the game, the 15th-ranked Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team pieced together a well-rounded showcase as the Captains knocked off Lynchburg, 13-4, during the season opener on Saturday at Shellenberger Field.

On the offensive end, four Captains produced multi-goal efforts, including five strikes from Kate Lamendola. Incredibly, that matched her entire total from last season as the second-year star made an impressive statement in the opener on Saturday. Among her highlights, she sank three free-position tallies, which equaled the fourth-highest total by a Captain and matched the team's top effort in six years.

Along with her offensive heroics, Lamendola also finished with six takeaways. With that performance, she became the first player in program history to record at least five goals and five caused turnovers in a single contest.

In addition to Lamendola, Faith O'Connor set a new career-high with four points, while Maelyn Eversole and Emilie Shoults added two goals apiece. Shoults also chipped in with three draw controls and two ground balls during a highlight-reel performance.

Equally impressive, Brookelyn Morrison kept the ball planted on the CNU side of the field with four takeaways and five draw controls. The reigning All-American also deposited her first goal of the year.

Dominating possession throughout the contest, Christopher Newport controlled 13 of the game's 20 draws, including nine of the 12 battles in the first half. Meanwhile, on the back end, Hadley Chadwick brushed aside three on-target shots while securing her 24th career victory.

Saturday's win marked CNU's fifth consecutive season-opening triumph and the program's 11th straight victory over Lynchburg.

From the very beginning, Christopher Newport set the tone on both sides of the field while playing through a monsoon. Just 40 seconds into regulation, Lamendola opened the scoring after dropping an eight-meter missile inside the left post. Although Lynchburg answered with the equalizer, Morrison pieced together a masterclass on the defensive end. 

First, after a lengthy delay following a referee stoppage, the third-year star came out of the break and immediately bottled up a free-position attempt. On the play, the Lynchburg shooter tried to slip inside, but Morrison used a slick stick-check to jar the ball loose along the arc.

Moments later, another Hornet attempted to circle around the zone, but Morrison used a trail-check to rip possession away again. 

Continuing the defensive domination, O'Connor and Drew Stanley orchestrated a double-team along the right sideline to slow down a clear attempt before CNU thwarted another free-position try. This time, in the 12th minute, Morrison jumped in front of the shooter, which forced the Hornet to pull back. Trailing the play, Madi Rozgonyi came in from behind and knocked the ball free to kill the threat.

Following the turnover, Christopher Newport capitalized on a quick clear as Page Henry found Shoults streaking down the center of the zone for the squad's second goal.

Entering the second quarter fostering a slim 2-1 lead, CNU broke loose with four daggers over the next four minutes. After Carys May stripped a midfielder during a failed clear in the 16th minute, the Captains took over on the offensive end.

Kicking things off, Lamendola landed back-to-back blows in less than 30 seconds, including a beautiful strike that saw her sidestep a defender at the top of the arc before blowing a low liner past the keeper to complete her first-half hat-trick. Shortly thereafter, Morrison capitalized on a looping feed from O'Connor before Stanley skipped a bouncer into the back of the net for a 6-1 lead.

Following a Lynchburg timeout, Christopher Newport put on another defensive clinic. After the stoppage, Maddie Rusinko blanketed a Hornet along the left side of the crease. Although the attacker attempted a quick dodge, the senior standout stayed in her face and forced a turnover in the 20th minute.

On Lynchburg's very next possession, May stuck to an attacker and caused an errant pass, which Stanley gobbled up near midfield. Then, Morrison forced another failed clear with tight defense along the right sideline, while Lamendola stalked a streaker down the center of the turf before chopping the ball free with a trail-check.

Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the field, O'Connor capitalized on an eight-meter attempt, while Eversole unleashed a high-to-low hammer in the final minute of the first half to grab an 8-2 edge entering the break.

Continuing her assault in the second half, Eversole came back with a fake-and-finish along the crease to secure a seven-goal edge. Later, the defense closed out the third quarter with a suffocating stretch.

Pushing back against a sustained Lynchburg rally, Rozgonyi fought through a scrum along the right boundary to grab possession of a roller. Later, Gabby Saia shaded an attacker on the interior before creating a loose ball, which ended up in May's stick along the arc.

Following Lynchburg's third goal, CNU polished off the period in style. Morrison knocked the ball away from a Hornet during a double-team before Rozgonyi won a scramble for possession along the crease. Later, Morrison swallowed a dodge and forced another turnover before Chadwick clamped down on an eight-meter attempt with a body block along the right pipe.

Entering the fourth frame with a 9-3 lead, Christopher Newport put the game out-of-reach with another early onslaught. Lamendola opened the action with her third free-position strike before Shoults added one of her own. Then, in the 51st minute, Lamendola came back with a highlight-reel tally to wrap up her evening.

Locked in a one-on-one battle at the top of the arc, the sophomore put her defender in a blender. Spinning to her left, she created some space before drawing a slide from a second Hornet. Unfazed, she pulled back and uncorked a long-range laser for her final strike of the contest.

With little left to prove, CNU added a fitting punctuation mark to the season-opening victory. First, on the back end, Saia and Shoults stayed tight on a pair of cutters, while Chadwick came through with a point-blank save. Then, just before the final horn sounded, O'Connor circled around a Lynchburg defender and landed a snipe from the right wing to close out the 13-4 win.

Overall, the Captains held a 28-7 advantage in shots in addition to their lopsided edge on the draw.

Christopher Newport will return to action on February 22 when the team travels to St. Mary's (Md.) for a 1 p.m. clash.

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