NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Coming up just short in a thrilling back-and-forth battle, the 24th-ranked Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team dropped a 14-12 decision to Rowan on a blustery Friday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.

Over the final 20 minutes of regulation, there were three lead changes and five ties before the Profs secured the victory. During the fourth quarter alone, Elena Sorkin sank a pair of go-ahead daggers for the Captains while finishing with a career-high five goals. Faith O'Connor also drove home a huge equalizer with five minutes remaining, but CNU could not quite overcome the high-powered Rowan attack.

Sorkin eventually wrapped up the contest with six total points, while O'Connor, Grace Taylor, and Maelyn Eversole had two goals apiece. Brookelyn Morrison also chipped in with three points and recorded her 100th career takeaway on the defensive side. She became the first player in program history to reach that milestone.

Along with Morrison's work on the back end, Madi Rozgonyi recorded four strips, which equaled her finest single-game effort since pocketing seven against Meredith on April 20, 2022. That performance also gave her 92 career caused turnovers, moving her past former All-American Emma Jackson for the second-most in school lore.

Adding a little more history to Friday's showcase, CNU finished with four man-up tallies, matching the fourth-most in program history. On an individual level, Taylor sank a pair of power play strikes in the span of three minutes in the second quarter. That equaled the second-highest total by a Captain.

With the setback, Christopher Newport fell to 5-5 on the season, while Rowan remained undefeated with a pristine 8-0 record.

After the Profs used a six-goal streak at the start of the third quarter to steal a 9-8 advantage in the 42nd minute, CNU retaliated. Putting a lid on the visitors, Hadley Chadwick made three saves, including a clutch stop on a low liner off a free-position attempt. Maddie Rusinko also pieced together a key defensive stand that saw her keep a ball loose while battling multiple attackers along the crease to force a shot-clock violation.

On the other end, Sorkin kicked off her late-game heroics. Showing patience at the top of the zone, she waited for an opening. Eventually, as space cleared, she rolled to her right, switched hands, and skipped a seed into the back of the net to even the score at nine entering the fourth quarter.

Continuing to torment the nation's 10th-ranked scoring defense, Sorkin came back for more in the 47th minute. Putting a defender in a blender, she dipped, dodged, and danced her way around a Prof in the right wing. Eventually, she found an opening to her right before sinking another bouncer for a 10-9 lead.

Although the visitors shot back with an equalizer just over a minute later, CNU clamped down on the back end again. Chadwick made another snag on an eight-meter missile, while Eversole killed off a clear with a fantastic ride in the middle of the field to force an errant feed that sailed over the end line.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Sorkin never lost her rhythm. After Kate Lamendola pushed through contact at the top of the zone, Sorkin grabbed a feed and rifled a long-range rocket past the keeper for her fifth tally of the game.

Unfortunately, Rowan had an answer. The Profs connected on back-to-back rallies to steal a 12-11 lead. Landing a counterpunch, O'Connor used a slick spin move to dodge a defender in the right alley before uncorking the equalizer with five minutes left in regulation.

Sadly, the visitors never relented. Rowan responded with another two-goal spurt, including a back-breaker with less than 60 seconds remaining on the clock, to ice the victory.

Overall, the Profs held a 30-26 lead in shots and a 15-14 edge on the draw. Christopher Newport led the way in ground balls, 11-10.

Long before the fateful fourth quarter, CNU got off to a strong start at the beginning of the contest. On the defensive side, Jess Hulse had a quick closeout while riding an attacker to cause an off-target pass, which Carys May collected during a physical confrontation in the left corner. Shortly thereafter, Morrison notched her first strip with a takeaway check after stalking a midfielder during a failed clear up the left sideline.

Moments later, Rozgonyi pieced together a solid run of her own. First, the senior standout deflected a looping pass towards the crease before Chadwick snatched it along the right post. Then, on another failed clear by Rowan, Rozgonyi picked off a bouncer near the center stripe to force a second turnover in just over a minute of action.

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the field, the Captains slipped out to an early advantage. Opening the action, Sorkin drew a slide towards the left alley, which left a void for Morrison. After collecting the pass, the junior All-American ripped a one-timer inside the left post for the game's first goal.

Continuing to attack, Sorkin collected her first two strikes, including a phenomenal play in the 14th minute. With the shot clock entering single digits, Eversole hustled to grab a deflection off an initial attempt by Morrison. Pushing the tempo, the senior quickly flipped the ball to Sorkin, who grabbed it with only four seconds left on the possession clock.

Facing a wall of defenders on the left side of the zone, she managed to find a little daylight and land a dagger that squeezed past six Profs on the way to the cage.

Along with her work on Sorkin's second goal, Eversole also posted her first strike after sidestepping a defender along the left post before blasting a turnaround tracer on the doorstep.

Holding a 4-3 lead after the first quarter, Christopher Newport gained some more breathing room with a perfect second stanza. On the defensive end, Chadwick made a slick save on a worm-burner from deep and grabbed a loose ball after Hulse jostled it free on a clear attempt. Morrison also added another series to her highlight reel with a remarkable run later in the period.

First, she blanketed a shooter on the inside and caused a rip to catch the crossbar. Later, she used an over-the-head check to strip an attacker in the left corner for her 100th career takeaway. Shortly thereafter, she deflected a free-position attempt and forced it to sail over the cage before Gabby Saia won possession of the ball while toeing the baseline.

Meanwhile, on the offensive side, the Captains landed four blows in the period. O'Connor and Taylor both converted free-position attempts, while Eversole used a nice cutback to dodge a defender on the interior before capitalizing on a feed from Morrison.

Then, in the final moments of the first half, Taylor broke out a stutter-step to circle around a defender before unleashing a missile on the move to lock up an 8-3 edge entering the break.

Unfortunately, Rowan fought back in the second half and used an early run and some late heroics to lock up the come-from-behind victory.

Along with her three points and two caused turnovers, Morrison secured a team-high four draw controls. Rozgonyi and Emilie Shoults also snatched three apiece, while Chadwick finished with eight saves and a pair of ground balls.

Christopher Newport will return to action on Sunday when the squad welcomes No. 2 Tufts to town for a noon battle.

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