FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Piecing together a performance for the ages, the Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team scored 17 straight goals during a remarkable run that saw the Captains flip an early deficit into a lopsided victory as CNU stormed past Mary Washington, 17-3, during a Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference showdown on Saturday afternoon at the Battleground Turf Field.

After the hosts opened the scoring in the second minute, CNU unleashed a non-stop assault that resulted in 17 consecutive goals. That marked the longest scoring streak by the Captains in two years and matched the squad's finest stretch in a road game since an 18-goal surge at Virginia Wesleyan on February 24, 2018.

Overall, the 14-goal victory was the program's largest in a conference game since a 24-5 triumph at Southern Virginia on April 2, 2019. It also marked CNU's ninth straight win over Mary Washington and was the most lopsided triumph in the history of the rivalry.

On the offensive side, Brookelyn Morrison finished with six points, including her second hat-trick of the year. Equally impressive, Faith O'Connor erupted for five goals. That matched her career-high, which she established just one week ago during an identical outburst at No. 17 Roanoke on April 5.

Also helping out on the attack, Maelyn Eversole added a hat-trick of her own, while Kate Lamendola finished with four points. Meanwhile, Elena Sorkin chipped in with her fourth straight multi-goal effort.

On the opposite side of the field, Christopher Newport was magnificent on the defensive end. The Captains limited the Eagles to just 16 shots, while Mary Washington's three goals marked the program's lowest output since a 17-2 setback at Salisbury on April 20, 2021. It was also the first time UMW failed to score at least four goals at home since a 14-2 loss against Trinity (Conn.) on March 18, 2013.

Anchoring the back line, Maddie Rusinko notched three caused turnovers and a pair of ground balls. Grace Taylor and Kate Lamendola also had two strips apiece, while Madi Rozgonyi had a takeaway, two ground balls, and four draw controls. Hadley Chadwick came through with five saves as well.

While starring on the back end, Rozgonyi made history on Saturday. The senior started her 76th career game, which now stands as the second-longest "Iron Man" streak in school history. She is just three starts away from matching former All-American Emma Jackson's run of 79 straight appearances from 2021-24.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improved to 7-8 on the season, while the setback dropped Mary Washington to 10-3.

After UMW opened the scoring less than 90 seconds into regulation, CNU quickly fought back. Setting the tone on the defensive side, Gabby Saia planted an attacker into the turf after an Eagle tried to roll in front of the crease. Following the emphatic takeaway, the Captains caught fire on the offensive end.

Kicking things off, Morrison snapped off a bouncer on a free-position attempt to even the score at one. Less than a minute later, Taylor dished to Eversole, who split two defenders with a tracer in traffic to secure CNU's first lead of the contest.

Meanwhile, on the defensive end, Christopher Newport never let up. During a shorthanded situation, Rusinko had a quick closeout in the left alley to prevent a shot while ripping possession away. Moments later, Chadwick stoned a low liner before Morrison pressured an attacker into a 10-yard retreat in the right wing. Eventually, the Eagle attempted to find a teammate, but Rozgonyi picked off the pass at the top of the zone.

On the other side, the Captains continued to stretch their lead. Lamendola dropped a dime over three defenders before Eversole caught the feed and launched a missile on the move. Then, Morrison capitalized on her second eight-meter shot of the period before Eversole polished off the quarter with a high-to-high hammer over a wall of Eagles to steal a 5-1 edge after 15 minutes of work.

In the second stanza, Christopher Newport dominated possession and quickly tossed five more goals on the board. First, Lamendola cruised through a crowd, dropped a defender to the turf, and fired a dagger on the interior. Then, after Chadwick gobbled up back-to-back shots by the hosts, the Captains unleashed a lethal assault at the end of the first half.

Kicking off the late action, O'Connor landed two straight strikes, including a gorgeous play that saw her dip under a defender in the left wing, storm inside, and snap a sidewinder around a pair of Eagles on the doorstep. Moments later, Drew Stanley skipped a seed into the back of the net on a free-position attempt before Morrison launched a laser from the left alley to secure a 10-1 advantage entering the break.

Looking to gain a running clock, Christopher Newport took a 10-goal lead just over 30 seconds into the third frame after Sorkin went high-to-low off a feed from Morrison. Moments later, O'Connor pushed in from the right side, cut back around a defender, switched hands, and registered her third goal of the contest.

After Sorkin continued the onslaught with an eight-meter rip, the Captains added to their highlight reel with a pair of spin moves. First, Lamendola spun through a double-team before converting her second goal. Shortly thereafter, O'Connor pushed to her left, hit the brakes, spun back to her right, and whistled a one-timer to grab a 15-1 lead.

Meanwhile, on the defensive side, Christopher Newport continued to suffocate the Eagles. Jess Hulse stayed tight with an attacker along the right sideline and forced a pass, which Carys May grabbed down low. Later, the two standouts teamed up again as May stuck to a shooter and caused an off-target rip to catch the pipe before Hulse snagged the deflection.

Then, in the waning moments of the period, Lamendola came through with a shorthanded strip after chopping the ball out of the stick of a midfielder near the left boundary.

Continuing the defensive domination in the fourth frame, Chadwick stoned a bouncer off a free-position shot before Rusinko deflected a pass in the right corner. Later, during back-to-back eight-meter attempts, Rozgonyi and Morrison pinched off a shooter at the top of the arc before Morrison deflected a second try with a stick-lift on the right side.

With little left to prove, the Captains tossed two more goals on the board. Taylor capitalized on a fast-break with a dart on the doorstep before O'Connor wrapped up the day with one last highlight. Facing a double-team, she split the pair at the top of the zone, ducked inside, and landed the squad's final tally.

Overall, CNU held a 31-16 advantage in shots and a 19-15 edge in ground balls. The Captains also controlled 15 of the game's 24 draws. Along with her six points, Morrison secured half-a-dozen draw controls, while Emilie Shoults snatched three of her own.

Christopher Newport will return to action on April 19 when CNU hosts No. 6 Salisbury at 1 p.m.

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