CHESTERTOWN, Md. -- Despite a furious rally in the final two minutes of regulation, the Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team could not quite overcome a late deficit as the Captains dropped a 12-11 decision to Washington (Md.) on Wednesday evening at Roy Kirby, Jr. Stadium.

Trailing by three with less than 90 seconds left on the clock, Drew Stanley and Maelyn Eversole both scored for the Captains, but the Shorewomen survived the scare to lock up the win. Eversole eventually finished the contest with three points, while Elena Sorkin notched her third hat-trick in the last two weeks. Brookelyn Morrison and Grace Taylor also chipped in with multi-goal efforts.

Along with her two tallies, Morrison wrapped up the game with four draw controls, three caused turnovers, and a pair of ground balls. Her final roller, which set up Eversole's goal in the waning moments of the contest, marked her 100th career ground ball. She became just the 23rd player in program lore to reach the century mark.

On the back end, Hadley Chadwick also made history on Wednesday. The junior goalie pocketed her 300th career save, becoming the sixth Captain to reach that mark. She eventually finished the contest with 10 total stops, marking her second double-digit save effort of the year.

With the setback, CNU dropped to 5-7 on the season, while the victory bumped Washington (Md.) to 5-5.

Trailing by three early in the fourth quarter, Christopher Newport mounted a comeback. In the 50th minute, Faith O'Connor lowered her shoulder and pushed a defender back to create some space on the left side of the zone. After spinning to her right, she wiggled free and stung a blast on the interior to chip the deficit down to two.

Although the hosts retaliated less than two minutes later, CNU pushed back on the defensive side. On an eight-meter attempt by the Shorewomen, Morrison and Gabby Saia crashed down on the shooter to deflect a rip before Chadwick swallowed a bouncer along the right post. Later, Morrison punched a ball loose on another free-position try before Saia won a scramble for the roller.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the Captains continued to attack. Entering the final two minutes of regulation, O'Connor returned to the offensive end. This time, she dropped a dime over the crease to Stanley, who uncorked a little high-to-high heat during a man-up situation to pull the visitors back within two at 12-10.

On the ensuing draw, the Shorewomen came away with possession, but Morrison and Saia teamed up again. As the hosts attempted to cut time off the clock, Morrison applied pressure along the right sideline before Saia chased down an attacker and jostled the ball loose. Coming up with the spinner, Morrison snagged her 100th career ground ball before finding Carys May, who completed a quick clear.

Working fast, Eversole found some space near the left post before capitalizing on a fake-and-finish along the crease to cut Washington's lead back down to one.

Sadly, the Shorewomen controlled the final draw and ran out the last few seconds to ice the win.

Overall, CNU held a 31-30 advantage in shots, including 13 blasts in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Washington led the way in ground balls, 17-11, and controlled 15 of the game's 27 draws.

Long before Christopher Newport deposited the final two goals, Sorkin opened the scoring with back-to-back bullets. In the span of 30 seconds during the opening period, she sidestepped a defender in the right alley and buried her first tally before launching an eight-meter missile to give the Captains a fast 2-0 lead.

After that point, the two teams traded blows. For CNU, Maddie Lamy connected with Morrison, who fired a missile under a defender's stick for the team's third goal. Then, in the final minute of the period, Eversole secured a huge loose ball while battling a pair of defenders along the end line. After keeping the possession alive, she capitalized on her own efforts with a rocket from the right side to snatch a 4-2 lead at the end of the opening stanza.

In the second quarter, Washington erupted for three straight goals to steal the team's first lead of the contest at 5-4. Unfazed by the momentary setback, Taylor put on a show. Kicking off her surge, she rolled up the left wing and snapped a sidewinder around the hip of a defender. Moments later, she took possession in the right alley, circled under a Shorewoman, and dunked on the doorstep to regain a one-goal lead.

Continuing the seesaw affair, the hosts knotted the score just before halftime. Then, in the third quarter, the two squads kept landing counterpunches.

For Christopher Newport, Eversole drew two defenders towards the left side of the zone, which created a void for Morrison. Eventually, the junior All-American secured a feed and scored on the inside for her second strike of the contest. Minutes later, Sorkin completed her hat-trick after sinking a highlight-reel rocket while sliding on the turf during a free-position attempt, which handed the visitors an 8-7 edge.

Sadly, the Shorewomen found their rhythm at the end of the third quarter. During a five-minute spurt, the hosts sank three straight goals before adding another at the start of the fourth frame to take an 11-8 lead.

Although CNU continued to battle and cut the deficit back down to one, the Captains could not quite complete the comeback.

Along with Morrison, Eversole and Madi Rozgonyi both collected two ground balls, while Emilie Shoults had four draw controls.

Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday when the Captains host No. 21 Denison at 11 a.m.

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