NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Celebrating Senior Day in style, the fourth-ranked Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team kicked off Coastal Lacrosse Conference action with a 15-9 victory over Montclair State on a sweltering Saturday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.

Showcasing a well-balanced attack, 13 Captains registered at least one point, including two apiece by fourth-year senior Brett Jackson and fifth-year phenom Zack Sands. Among other veteran standouts, Logan Shassian added an assist, John Santoro collected a career-high four ground balls, and Trey Landolfi made his first career start while pocketing four saves to earn the victory.

Meanwhile, in the middle of the field, three-time All-American Warner Cabaniss went 7-for-9 on faceoffs, while fellow senior Tom Best won a pair of battles as well.

Along with the most experienced members of the team, Jamie Smith put on a clinic while erupting for five goals. Among his highlights, he sank three man-up tallies, which equaled the single-game school record.

Sophomore star Kevin Miller also chipped in with four points, including his 41st assist of the year. That moved him to third on the program's single-season charts, passing former All-American Matt Crist and his own brother, Drew Miller, who topped out at 39 helpers in 2022.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improved to 11-1 on the season, including 1-0 in league action. Meanwhile, the setback dropped Montclair State to 8-3 overall and 0-1 against conference foes.

Right from the start, the seniors set the tone on the defensive end. Shassian knocked down a quick pass on a failed clear before Sands snatched the roller. Moments later, Santoro shoved a shooter off his spot along the right post to prevent a clean look on the inside.

Following the early work on the back end, the attack erupted on the other side. Kicking things off, Fred Fulkerson made a fantastic play to save an errant shot behind the cage before rolling around the left post, screening a defender, and finding Smith for his first goal of the contest.

Later, Jackson Shaw converted a dip and dunk on the doorstep, Sands and Miller teamed up on a fast-break strike, and Jackson landed a rocket from the right wing with only a few ticks left on the shot clock.

Looking to punctuate the period in style, Jackson Platner schooled a pair of defenders. On a run from the top of the zone, he dodged a long pole, spun to his right, cut around a shortie, and uncorked a blast to grab a 5-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Still rolling in the second stanza, Miller snapped a spinner around the left post, Gabe Montognese deposited a diving dagger with some aerial work along the crease, and Shassian used the hidden-ball trick to free up some space for Smith, who launched a man-up missile.

Later, AJ Rosacker hammered the ball loose during a failed clear before Jude MacLean pounced on the roller during a scrum at the center stripe. Taking advantage of the unsettled situation, Smith landed a strike in the center of the zone to snatch a 9-1 lead in the middle of the period.

Although Montclair State chipped away at its deficit with back-to-back goals, CNU retaliated. First, Joey Fantinato unleashed a screamer after curling around the left post before Smith sank a leaping laser in the face of a defender during a man-up situation with five seconds left in the first half.

Holding an 11-3 lead entering the third quarter, the Captains put the game on ice. First, on the defensive side, Shassian launched a midfielder across the left sideline during a failed clear by the visitors. Later, Jayden Hardnett had a great ride during a one-on-one situation to force an off-target shot.

Meanwhile, on the offensive side, the hosts never lost their rhythm. Ethan Slusher rolled through a double-team and ran past a third defender before hammering from the right wing. Then, at the end of the period, CNU landed two blows in the final 80 seconds.

Kicking off the late spurt, Sands jumped between a pair of Red Hawks, intercepted a pass, and burst free on a one-man fast-break. Rumbling down the field, he quickly capitalized on his own efforts with a blistering shot on the move for his fourth goal of the year.

After Declan McCulloch brushed aside Montclair State's response, Smith drove home his third man-up goal of the contest to grab a 14-7 lead entering the final 15 minutes. 

With little left to prove, Christopher Newport added one final exclamation point in the fourth quarter. On another failed clear by the Red Hawks, Bennett Spruell picked off a feed near midfield before finding Matt McCabe in transition for the squad's 15th goal.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 43-32 advantage in shots and a 47-39 lead in ground balls. The Captains also won 19 of the game's 28 faceoffs. Along with the work of Best and Cabaniss, Grant Giunchi went 5-for-5 at the dot, while Connor Bade was 5-for-6.

CNU will return to action on Monday when the Captains travel to No. 10 Washington and Lee for a 6 p.m. showdown.

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