SWARTHMORE, Pa. -- Trailing by two at halftime, the 22nd-ranked Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team dug in on both sides of the ball and pieced together a furious second-half rally to snatch a 12-10 victory over Swarthmore during a non-conference tilt on Sunday afternoon at Clothier Field.

Just one day after a similar comeback bid fell short in an overtime marathon at Haverford, CNU showed remarkable resilience on Sunday. Leading the charge, Brookelyn Morrison deposited a pair of go-ahead goals in the second half, including an early strike in the fourth quarter that gave the Captains a lead they would never relinquish. The junior All-American also collected 10 draw controls, which equaled the second-highest total of her career.

Along with Morrison's masterpiece, Maelyn Eversole chipped in with four points, while Grace Taylor, Faith O'Connor, and Elena Sorkin had two goals apiece. 

On the defensive side, Morrison and Jess Hulse each contributed a pair of takeaways as CNU baited Swarthmore into 11 total turnovers. The Captains allowed just a single goal over the final 18 minutes of regulation, including a suffocating stretch at the start of the fourth quarter that saw Christopher Newport flip a tie game into a commanding 12-9 advantage.

Between the pipes, Hadley Chadwick came through with nine saves. That was her fourth straight appearance with at least nine stops, marking the longest run by a Captain since former legend Kaitlyn Ready had an eight-game streak from March 2-30, 2019.

Overall, Sunday's performance was just the second time in the last two seasons that CNU posted a victory after overcoming a multi-goal halftime deficit. It was also the first time the program accomplished that feat on the road since upending Mary Washington, 14-13, on April 22, 2023.

With the win, Christopher Newport improved to 5-4 on the season, while the setback dropped Swarthmore to 5-1.

Staring at a 7-5 deficit entering the second half, CNU went right to work. Less than a minute into the third period, Maddie Lamy used a slick sidearm flick from the right corner to find Drew Stanley burning down the center of the field. After securing the pass, the second-year star unleashed a missile on the move to cut Swarthmore's lead down to one.

Although the Garnet tried to respond, the Captains starred on the defensive side. Hulse wrestled possession away with a stick-check at the top of the zone before grabbing control of the bouncer during a scrum with a pair of attackers. On Swarthmore's next series, Lexi Larson got into the body of a shooter, drove her back to the restraining line, and forced an errant pass towards the right corner.

Following the defensive stand, Christopher Newport evened the score at seven. Piecing together an incredible individual effort, Eversole put a defender in a blender. Cutting back-and-forth in the left alley, she capitalized on a pair of spin moves to slip free on the interior before sinking the equalizer in the 36th minute.

Although Swarthmore regained its lead after a timeout in the middle of the stanza, CNU unloaded at the end of the period. O'Connor spun around a defender at the top of the zone before rifling a rocket inside the left post. Just 30 seconds later, Morrison went with an off-speed spinner that bounced off the turf and slipped past the keeper during a free-position attempt.

Facing their first deficit of the contest, Swarthmore quickly answered with a game-tying tally in the 42nd minute. However, Christopher Newport never let the opposition pull ahead again.

Closing out the third quarter on the defensive end, Chadwick made a sensational save on an underhanded scoop shot. Later, Gabby Saia put together a tremendous series. The sophomore standout knocked a ball loose in the right corner for a brief moment. Although the opposition kept possession, she stuck with a cutter along the crease, punched the ball out again, and helped gain control of a bouncer in the middle of a crowd.

Later, in the waning moments of the stanza, Swarthmore tried to orchestrate one final scoring opportunity, but Hulse and Carys May built a wall near the restraining line to prevent any last-second shots.

Entering the fourth quarter tied at nine, CNU took control of the game with an early assault. After Chadwick blocked a bounce shot on Swarthmore's first series of the period, Christopher Newport unloaded on the offensive end. First, O'Connor dodged a defender on the left side before looping a feed into the center of the zone. Although the pass pinballed off a stick and the turf, it eventually skipped up towards Morrision.

Taking advantage, she swatted the bouncer out of the air and sent it spiralling past the keeper for the go-ahead goal.

Less than a minute later, Eversole saved a roller from trickling over the left boundary during a man-up situation. Taking advantage, she eventually regained possession and found Taylor streaking towards the crease for her second strike of the game.

Looking for a little more breathing room, O'Connor came back again. This time, she sidestepped a defender, cut to her right, and whistled a one-timer to lock up a 12-9 lead.

As the Captains built a three-goal advantage, the squad dominated possession. Emilie Shoults controlled a pair of draws during the early part of the fourth quarter, while Morrison stripped a Swarthmore midfielder who momentarily secured possession in the 49th minute.

Meanwhile, on the back end, Christopher Newport put on a clinic. May sealed off the left post after swallowing a dodge along the crease, while Rozgonyi came through with a leaping interception in the right corner. Shortly thereafter, on a failed clear by the hosts, Saia clubbed the ball loose along the left sideline before Morrison completed the play with a strip in the middle of the turf.

Later, with time winding down, Saia helped punctuate the contest. First, she dropped the hammer on an attacker before grabbing the loose ball and storming up the right sideline. Although the Garnet came back in the final moments of regulation, Saia had a great ride down the right alley, which forced a wild pass that ended up in Emily Snyder's stick as time expired.

Overall, Swarthmore held a slim 24-23 lead in shots, while CNU controlled 16 of the game's 26 draws. The Captains also had a 14-12 edge in ground balls, including three rollers by Rozgonyi and two apiece by Morrison, Hulse, May, and Saia.

Long before completing their comeback, the Captains fell behind in the early moments of the contest. Although the Garnet slipped out to a quick two-goal lead, CNU pushed back. In the center of the turf, Eversole stripped a midfielder before elevating to collect a high bouncer in the middle of a crowd. Later, on the back end, Chadwick stoned a rip along the right post before the offense found its rhythm.

In the fifth minute, Kate Lamendola went high-to-high with a heater off a free-position attempt to open the scoring. Moments later, Eversole flashed pristine precision. Matched up one-on-one in the left corner, the senior fired a pinpoint pass over the stick of the closest defender and just beyond the reach of a second Swarthmore player in the middle of the zone. On the receiving end, Taylor caught the feed and stung a missile inside the left post to pull the visitors within one at 3-2.

After the hosts shot back with their fourth goal, CNU kept a tight lid on the Garnet attack. Rozgonyi had a quick closeout in the interior to disrupt a turnaround tracer, while May had a solid ride around the left post before getting her stick on a shooter, which caused an attempt to sail past the cage.

Meanwhile, on the offensive end, Sorkin came through with her first goal after skipping a laser through the keeper following a slick dodge in the right wing to avoid an on-ball defender.

Although Swarthmore fired back and stole a three-goal lead early in the second quarter, Christopher Newport retaliated. On the back side, Hulse knocked a ball free with a tough check at the top of the zone before Rozgonyi collected the roller after a wild scramble in the right alley. Then, on the other side, Eversole pushed up the left wing, hit the brakes, switched hands, and launched a lefty laser to pull back within two.

Trading blows, the Garnet sank their seventh goal before CNU settled in on the defensive side. During a long rally in the middle of the period, Rozgonyi and Larson blanketed a pair of attackers near the top of the zone. After the hosts worked the ball towards the crease, Hulse got a piece of a shooter's stick and sent the ball hurdling over the cage.

Later, Page Henry deflected a feed on a failed clear before Hulse came up with the loose ball. Then, Lamendola had a nice switch to avoid a screen and keep pressure on a shooter before Chadwick swallowed a pair of shots.

Following Chadwick's final save of the period, Christopher Newport orchestrated a quick clear before Sorkin polished off the first half with a rocket from the right wing to chip Swarthmore's deficit down to two at 7-5.

After stealing some momentum at the end of the second quarter, CNU kept chipping away before completing the come-from-behind victory in the fourth frame.

The Captains will return to action on Friday when the squad hosts Rowan at 3 p.m.

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