NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Despite a plucky second-half effort, the 24th-ranked Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team could not quite overcome an early deficit as the Captains dropped a 15-5 decision to No. 2 Tufts on a sun-soaked Sunday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.

Showing incredible resilience after falling behind early, CNU actually outscored the Jumbos, 5-4, over the final 32 minutes of regulation, including a pair of points by Maddie Lamy. Drew Stanley, Grace Taylor, Kate Lamendola, and Maggie Lockard also found the back of the cage for the Captains, while Gabby Saia added her first collegiate point after setting up the team's opening strike with a fast-break assist.

The Captains also starred on the draw throughout the contest, controlling 13 of the game's 24 battles. Leading the way, Madi Rozgonyi notched a career-high five draw controls, while Emilie Shoults added four of her own.

On the defensive side, Brookelyn Morrison and Emily Snyder caused two turnovers apiece, while Lamendola contributed a strip and three ground balls. Between the pipes, Hadley Chadwick collected nine saves for the Captains. Aided by those efforts, CNU became the first team this season to hold Tufts to fewer than 17 goals. The Jumbos, who entered Sunday boasting the nation's second-ranked scoring offense, had registered at least 17 tallies in eight straight regular season games dating back to last April.

With the setback, Christopher Newport fell to 5-6 on the season, while Tufts improved to 7-0.

Facing one of the country's elite attacks, CNU did solid work on the back end. During an early rush by the visitors, Jess Hulse pushed an attacker below the crease before Saia had a quick closeout along the left post to prevent a clean look. Moments later, Morrison knocked down a feed along the opposite pipe to end the threat.

On the next run, Rozgonyi and Saia double-teamed an attacker in the left corner and forced an ill-timed pass, which Hulse punched away. Then, in the middle of the stanza, Morrison clubbed the ball out of the stick of a shooter as the Jumbo loaded up for a rip in the right alley.

Although Tufts continued to march forward and eventually broke through with seven goals in the opening period, Lamendola closed out the frame in style. Following a draw by the visitors, the second-year standout picked off a pass near the restraining line as the Jumbos were trying to set up a rally. Then, in the waning moments, she collected a loose ball in traffic after Morrison blocked a feed along the crease.

In the second stanza, Christopher Newport stymied a series of eight-meter attempts. First, Rozgonyi applied pressure along the arc and forced an early shot to catch the right post. Later, Lamendola reached out and got just enough of a shooter's stick to knock the ball free before winning a race for the roller in the left corner.

Then, in the middle of the period, Chadwick stoned back-to-back free-position shots, including a slick stop on a worm-burner from the center hash.

Although the Jumbos extended their lead to 11-0 late in the second quarter, CNU fired back. With time winding down in the first half, Rozgonyi dropped the hammer on a cutter who tried to slip towards the cage. Grabbing the loose ball, Saia orchestrated a one-person clear. Outrunning a pair of Jumbos, she bolted up the left sideline before sprinting towards the center of the field.

With some room to work, Saia slipped a pass to Stanley, who cut in from the right wing and laced a bouncer inside the post to complete the fast-break for the squad's first goal.

In the second half, Christopher Newport kept the momentum. Less than a minute into the third quarter, Page Henry settled in behind the crease. Drawing the attention of a defender, she quickly flipped the ball to Taylor, who ducked underneath a second Jumbo, split two more in the left alley, and hammered a missile on the move to slice Tufts' lead back down to single digits.

Following the offensive highlights, Chadwick put on a clinic between the pipes. Keeping a tight lid on the Jumbos, she made four saves in the period, including a gorgeous stop on a breakaway in the 35th minute. Later, she came back with another save on a free-position attempt after swallowing a low liner.

Although Tufts eventually added two more goals at the end of the third stanza, the hosts answered in the fourth frame. In the opening moments of the period, Maelyn Eversole backed up an initial shot by Morrison to keep an early run alive. Taking advantage of the second-chance opportunity, Morrison connected with Lamy on a pinpoint pass through traffic. After securing the feed, the junior curled around the right side of the crease and connected on the doorstep for her second goal of the year.

Later, on the defensive end, Chadwick stoned a shot on the inside before Carys May came up with the rebound. Flanked by five Jumbos, the second-year star wiggled her way through the crowd, cut towards the sideline, rocketed past a midfielder, and completed a hard-fought clear.

Capitalizing on the ensuing possession, Lamendola skipped a seed through the keeper on a free-position attempt to chip Tufts' lead down to 14-4. 

Continuing to shine on the back end, Laci Welch pieced together a terrific ride along the left side of the zone. Staying with an attacker through a series of dodges and a cutback attempt, she knocked the ball loose for a brief moment before forcing an errant pass. On the inside, Snyder kept the roller on the turf before Maddie Rusinko shoveled it to Chadwick.

Moments later, Tufts returned to the offensive end, but Snyder stayed in the face of an attacker and got just enough of the Jumbo's stick to jostle the ball loose along the left sideline.

With time winding down, the Captains added one last highlight on the other side of the field. Showcasing beautiful ball movement, Taylor whipped a feed down to Lamy, who was stationed along the right post. In a flash, Lamy redirected the ball to Lockard, who caught the pass, sidestepped a defender, and slammed home her first goal since 2023.

Overall, Tufts held a 33-19 advantage in shots and a 14-7 lead in ground balls.

Christopher Newport will return to action on Wednesday when the Captains travel to Washington (Md.) for a 4 p.m. battle.

---ISH---