OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Headlining an electric attack, Brett Jackson and Jamie Smith combined for nine goals, while Kevin Miller added five points of his own as the fourth-ranked Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team took down No. 16 Lynchburg, 16-12, in a non-conference tilt on Saturday afternoon during the Callum Robinson Mustang Classic at Stevenson's Mustang Stadium.

Against the Hornets, Jackson landed five goals, which equaled his highest single-game output since setting the school record with 10 tallies against Catholic on March 4, 2023. With his performance, the senior also climbed to fourth on the program's all-time goals list with his 134th career strike. That moved him past former legend Drew Miller, who accumulated 133 from 2020-24.

Along with his work on the offensive end, Jackson also established a new career-high with four ground balls, including two that led to second-chance strikes.

Smith also connected for four goals, which marked his fifth consecutive hat-trick. Meanwhile, Miller deposited two tallies to go along with three assists, while Jackson Platner had three points as well.

Helping feed the attack, Warner Cabaniss was a machine on faceoffs. The three-time All-American won 19 of his 26 battles. He also scooped up six ground balls and added an assist on a key strike in the second quarter.

On the back side, Mason Bellinger corralled nine saves, including a momentum-turning stop after an attacker slipped free on the interior with less than three minutes remaining in regulation. Brett Kelley and Colin DeGrassi also chipped in with two takeaways apiece.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improved to 9-0 on the season, while the setback dropped Lynchburg to 2-4. In a series known for its tight battles, including three overtime marathons, CNU's four-goal win on Saturday equaled its most lopsided triumph over the Hornets in program history. Incidentally, it mirrored a similar 17-13 win on the exact same field during the 2022 Mustang Classic.

Less than 40 seconds into regulation, Jackson landed the game's first blow. Isolated in the right wing, he ducked underneath a defender, stormed towards the crease, and whipped a southpaw sidewinder around the keeper for a fast 1-0 lead.

Trading blows, Lynchburg responded with the equalizer before Smith capitalized on a man-up situation. On the play, he caught a flip from Platner before spinning a low liner underneath the stick of a defender while flanked by two other Hornets in the center of the zone to secure a 2-1 lead.

Continuing the seesaw affair, Lynchburg knotted the game again before the Captains answered. This time, Platner dodged a pair of defenders before drawing a slide towards the top of the zone. That action left an open space for Jackson, who secured the pass in the right alley and burned a blast from long range.

Along with the offensive standouts, Christopher Newport also shined on the other end of the field. AJ Rosacker contested a shot and got his stick on the hands of an attacker, which forced a rocket to spin past the right post. Later, Ryan Almassian tangled up another Hornet on a roll across the top of the zone, causing a second shot to miss the cage.

Later in the period, Rosacker came back to block an attempt from the left wing, while DeGrassi stripped an attacker along the crease. Shortly thereafter, Kelley completed a successful double-team in the right alley with a trail-check before Bellinger secured the loose ball and cleared the zone.

Although Lynchburg eventually tied the game again just before the end of the period, CNU caught fire early in the second stanza. Unmarked on the right side, Jackson collected a pass from Miller and dotted the top left corner of the cage. On the ensuing faceoff, Cabaniss won possession to himself and kept control during a physical altercation along the center stripe.

After slipping free for a minute, the senior All-American dished the ball to Rosacker, who split the wickets of the keeper with a bounce shot to steal a 5-3 lead.

Although Lynchburg cut its deficit back down to one, the Captains showed impressive resolve on the ensuing possession. Following a faceoff win by Cabaniss, Will Cramp captured the ground ball and kept control despite being dragged to the turf and swarmed by three defenders along the right sideline.

After CNU called for a timeout, Smith came out of the stoppage with a similarly incredible play. Blanketed by two long poles along the left side of the crease, he escaped the crowd, dipped underneath, and hit the keeper with a fake-and-finish on the doorstep for his second goal of the contest.

Continuing to stretch the lead, the Captains took advantage of quick ball movement in the 21st minute. From the left wing, Miller fired a seed down to Jude MacLean, who was planted along the left post. In a flash, he redirected the ball to the top right corner of the zone where John Santoro uncorked a long-range rocket to grab a 7-4 edge.

Moments later, after Rosacker notched a man-down strip, the attack struck again. Dodging behind the crease, Miller fed the ball to Smith. Unleashing a high-to-low laser, he cracked a one-timer over the head of a defender before skipping it into the net from the left alley.

Staring at a four-goal deficit, Lynchburg chipped away in the middle of the period while landing three straight strikes to inch back within one.

Unfazed by the comeback bid, Christopher Newport had an answer. First, Jackson stepped under a defender, absorbed a body blow from a second Hornet, and blistered a bullet along the crease. Less than a minute later, Miller snapped a submarine shot around the ankles of a defender to secure a 10-7 lead.

Although Lynchburg cut its deficit back down to two just before halftime, Christopher Newport responded after the break.

Winning the opening faceoff of the second half, Cabaniss held a clamp for 28 seconds before flipping a roller to Rosacker. Capitalizing on the possession, Miller kept control despite an overhead check that nearly bent him in half. After surviving the assault, he dished the ball to Smith, who quickly cashed in with his third goal 

Once again, Lynchburg strung together a pair of tallies to trim the lead back down to one, but CNU kept its composure on the defensive side. Bellinger registered a kick save and won possession of an errant shot on a fast-break after diving towards the baseline. He also snuffed out a turnaround tracer, Daniel Siaton deflected a shot with a trail-check, and Zack Sands clubbed the ball out of the stick of an attacker in the right alley to help polish off the period.

Carrying an 11-10 lead into the fourth quarter, Christopher Newport went right to work on the offensive end. Orchestrating a remarkable individual effort, Logan Shassian was isolated with a defender behind the cage. Dodging to his right, he eventually curled around the left post, slipped underneath a second Hornet, and deposited a diving dagger along the crease.

Later, the Captains put their physicality on display. During a clear attempt by Lynchburg, Miller punished a defender with a bruising hit in the center of the field, while Jackson leveled a second player along the right sideline. Then, on the offensive end, Platner lowered his shoulder and sent a defender stumbling backwards before lacing a liner for his first goal.

Following a timeout, Jackson sidestepped a defender on the right side, avoided two other Hornets, and sank his final tally in traffic to collect a 14-11 lead.

Once again, Lynchburg cut the advantage down to two with five minutes remaining, but CNU never let the opposition get any closer. On the back side, Sands stayed on the hip of a shooter and caused a rip to catch the left pipe. Later, after a Hornet was left unattended in the center of the zone, Bellinger came through with a highlight-reel stop to stamp out the threat before any damage could be done.

Meanwhile, on the offensive end, Ethan Slusher dotted the top left corner of the cage with a screamer before Miller potted a 23-yard teardrop after Lynchburg's keeper vacated the crease attempting to force a turnover.

Following the final tally, Cabaniss won the ensuing faceoff with a clean clamp in the final minute to lock up the victory.

During the contest, CNU held a 47-41 lead in shots and a 38-28 advantage in ground balls. Along with Cabaniss' six rollers, Bellinger, Jackson, and Cramp had four apiece. Rosacker and Kelley also added three on the back side, while Mark Davison collected a pair.

Christopher Newport will return to action on Thursday when the Captains come home for a 5 p.m. test against No. 1 Tufts at Jennings Family Stadium.

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