NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In a game for the ages, the fifth-ranked Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team fell just short against top-ranked Tufts as the Captains dropped a hard-fought 17-16 decision during an epic overtime thriller on a cloud-covered Thursday evening at Jennings Family Stadium.

After vaulting out to a six-goal lead early in the first quarter, CNU eventually carried an 11-7 edge into halftime. Although Tufts responded with a huge rally and secured a two-goal advantage entering the final two minutes of regulation, Logan Shassian and Fred Fulkerson connected on back-to-back daggers to force overtime.

Unfortunately, after a huge defensive stand by the Captains and a missile by Brett Jackson that just caught the crossbar, the defending national champions landed the final blow in transition to steal the victory.

During the contest, Jackson, Shassian, and Jamie Smith posted hat-tricks for CNU, while Kevin Miller handed out six assists. That equaled the fourth-highest total in program history and the top mark against a nationally-ranked opponent. The second-year star also notched his 100th career point during the game, becoming the 20th Captain to reach that plateau.

Along with the offensive standouts, Mark Davison registered six caused turnovers, which equaled the eighth-most in program history. Colin DeGrassi, Daniel Siaton, and AJ Rosacker also had two strips apiece, while Mason Bellinger chipped in with nine saves and added an assist during a remarkable play at the end of the opening quarter.

Meanwhile, at the dot, Warner Cabaniss put together a scrappy effort while winning 17 of his 30 battles. The senior All-American also secured eight ground balls, including the 600th of his career. He became just the 16th player in Division III history to reach that milestone.

With the setback, Christopher Newport fell to 9-1 on the season, while Tufts improved to 5-0.

After the Jumbos secured a 16-14 lead late in the fourth quarter, CNU mounted a comeback. First, on the defensive end, Zack Sands stood up an attacker along the edge of the crease before driving him into the turf. Collecting the loose ball, DeGrassi snatched the roller and jump-started a key clear.

Taking advantage of the possession, the Captains showed incredible patience before striking just before the end of the shot clock. On the play, Fulkerson used a quick dodge to swim past a defender in the left alley before finding Shassian on the doorstep. After securing the pass, the senior whipped one around the left pipe for his third tally.

Still needing another goal, Christopher Newport came through with a huge faceoff victory. During a lengthy scramble for possession, Sands applied pressure along the left sideline, which forced a Tufts midfielder to launch a Hail Mary heave back towards the center of the turf. Taking advantage, Cabaniss stole the feed before the attack settled in with a minute left in regulation.

After the Jumbos were hit with a penalty, CNU made them pay. Working the ball around the zone, Miller eventually laced a skip-pass across the crease to Fulkerson, who finished with a quick flick around the post to knot the score at 16 and send the game into overtime.

In the extra session, Tufts won the opening faceoff, but the defense held firm. Rosacker deflected a pass in the left alley and sent the ball spinning skyward. Coming away with the bouncer, Sands secured the ball and handed it back to the attack.

Looking to land the fatal blow, Jackson unleashed a burner from the top of the zone, but his shot just kissed the crossbar and landed in the stick of the keeper. Taking advantage of the unsettled situation, Tufts quickly cleared the defensive end and sank a tracer in transition to seal the victory in the 63rd minute.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 55-38 advantage in shots and a 38-36 lead in ground balls. The Captains also won 19 of the game's 35 faceoffs and converted three of their four man-up opportunities.

Long before the game ended, CNU pieced together an emphatic statement at the beginning of the contest. Just seconds into regulation, the Jumbos momentarily came up with possession on the opening draw, but Rosacker quickly planted their faceoff specialist into the turf. Shortly thereafter, Smith opened the scoring after skipping a shot through a defender and over the keeper along the left pipe.

After that point, the Captains erupted on the offensive end. Jackson Shaw split a pair of Jumbos before shrugging off a physical altercation on the way to the squad's second goal. Then, in the fourth minute, Smith added to his highlight reel. After grabbing a pass from Miller, the third-year star snapped off a behind-the-back bullet that buzzed over a defender's head before landing in the back of the cage.

Still motoring along, Will Cramp converted a second-chance opportunity with a dunk on the doorstep, while Fulkerson snapped a sidewinder around the knees of a defender. After a Tufts timeout, the Jumbos came away with the ensuing faceoff, but Smith and Grant Giunchi teamed up on a strip before Jackson barreled through a defender and sank a spinner from the right alley to snatch a 6-0 lead.

Just as effective on the defensive side, Ryan Almassian knocked down a pass in traffic before DeGrassi picked off the bouncer. Later, Siaton had a slick interception along the crease, while Davison forced a ball loose with tight coverage at the top of the zone.

Although Tufts eventually scored back-to-back goals, CNU quickly answered. With two minutes left in the opening period, Miller connected with Smith, who used a fake-and-finish to score along the crease. Then, with 18 seconds remaining in the quarter, Bellinger stoned a low rip towards the left corner of the cage.

With some space to move, the junior goalie marched up the field, dodged a midfielder along the center stripe, and used an underhanded flip to shovel a pass out to Jude MacLean. After glancing at the clock, the junior posted up from 30 yards out and rifled a bounce shot through the keeper for a last-second strike.

Holding an 8-2 edge entering the second stanza, CNU continued to attack. Jackson broke the ankles of a defender with a slick cut to his left before skipping a seed into the bottom left corner of the net. Shortly thereafter, Miller unleashed a no-look pass across the zone to Shassian, who drove home a man-up missile for a 10-3 lead.

Later in the period, Davison clubbed an attacker who attempted to catch a pass underneath before DeGrassi secured the loose ball. Looking to clear, Sands grabbed an outlet, bolted across midfield, and burned a rocket under the crossbar for CNU's 11th goal of the contest.

Unfortunately, Tufts continued to chip away. The visitors scored four of the final five goals of the period to pull back within four at 11-7.

After the break, CNU found its rhythm again. Finding some success from long range, Shassian, Jackson, and Ethan Slusher all connected from deep during a five-minute surge in the middle of the stanza. However, the Jumbos never relented. Despite a slick over-the-head takeaway check by Davison and three gigantic saves by Bellinger, the visitors kept poking at the defense and pulled back within two at the end of the third quarter.

Still rolling in the fourth frame, Tufts landed the first four goals of the stanza to steal a 16-14 lead. However, Christopher Newport's defense kept the squad within striking distance. During the early part of the period, Jed Pellicano came up with a clutch roller in the left corner, while the man-down unit came through with a momentum-turning defensive stand.

Playing shorthanded, Davison picked off a flip along the right sideline, while Declan McCulloch sealed off the left post with a save from his knees. Those efforts helped set up the late-game heroics by the offense, which sent the game into overtime.

Sadly, the Jumbos were able to escape in the extra session to win the top-five showdown.

Along with his two takeaways, Rosacker collected five ground balls, while DeGrassi hauled in four of his own. Davison, Sands, and Siaton also notched three apiece on the defensive end.

Christopher Newport will return to action on March 26 when the squad continues its homestand with a 4 p.m. test against Williams.

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