NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Holding a lead into the 50th minute, the Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team gave fifth-ranked Salisbury everything it could handle before falling just short in a thrilling 10-9 battle during a Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference clash on a sweltering Saturday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.

Evenly matched throughout the contest, CNU held a two-goal advantage entering halftime and a one-goal edge heading into the fourth quarter, but Salisbury managed to land the final three blows to steal a come-from-behind victory.

On the offensive end, Maelyn Eversole matched her career-high with five points, including a go-ahead rip in the middle of the third quarter. Her four goals equaled the fourth-most by a Captain against a top-five foe in program history and matched the most since 2021. Kate Lamendola also sank two strikes, while Brookelyn Morrison added three points, including a pair of helpers.

Helping feed the attack, Christopher Newport starred on the draw. The Captains controlled 15 of the game's 22 battles, including six apiece by Morrison and Emilie Shoults. The Sea Gulls' seven draw controls equaled their fewest in a single game since Salisbury collected four at Washington and Lee on February 25, 2023.

Meanwhile, the defense was equally electric for CNU. Morrison and Maddie Rusinko forced three turnovers apiece. Those efforts matched the second-most takeaways by a Captain against a top-five team in program history, trailing only Julia Golden's four strips against No. 5 Salisbury on April 10, 2019.

Rounding out a well-balanced showcase on the back end, Molly Campbell, Maddie Lamy, and Madi Rozgonyi all had two caused turnovers apiece. Rozgonyi's final takeaway was the 100th of her award-winning career, making her just the second Captain in school history to reach the century mark.

Along with the back line, Hadley Chadwick scooped up eight saves, including five stops in the fourth quarter.

With the setback, Christopher Newport fell to 7-9 on the season, including 1-1 in league action. The victory bumped Salisbury to 11-4 and 1-0 against conference opponents.

From the very beginning, CNU set the tone on both ends of the field. After Salisbury opened the scoring, the hosts quickly responded. Isolated in the left corner, Eversole spun underneath a Sea Gull, cut over a second defender, and landed a blast along the pipe to even the score at one.

Later, in the middle of the period, the Captains capitalized on a solid defensive effort to score in transition. On the back side, Jess Hulse stayed on the hip of a dodger behind the crease. Unable to find any space, the Sea Gull tried to flip the ball into the center of the zone, but Morrison elevated and picked off the feed in traffic before bolting in the other direction.

Storming down the turf, the junior All-American eventually connected with Eversole, who slammed on the brakes, cut to her left, and scored her second straight goal.

Less than 30 seconds later, after Rozgonyi collected the ensuing draw, Page Henry went to work. Winning a one-on-one match-up in the right wing, she slipped under her defender and drove home a high-to-high hammer, which gave the Captains a 3-2 lead in the ninth minute.

Meanwhile, on the defensive side, Christopher Newport continued to clamp down on Salisbury's high-powered attack. Early on, Gabby Saia blocked a shot along the crease before Lamendola got physical with a shooter who went airborne in the right wing. Eventually, the ball popped loose before Chadwick snatched it along the post.

Later, during a lengthy defensive stand, Rusinko dislodged a ball for a brief moment in the left alley. Although the Sea Gulls regained possession, they tried to spin a pass into traffic. In a perfect position, Rozgonyi gobbled up the feed and cleared the back end.

Still pushing forward, Salisbury eventually tossed a pair of late goals on the board to secure a 4-3 lead entering the second stanza. Unfazed by the assault, Christopher Newport regrouped on both ends of the field.

Pushing back against an early run by the visitors in the second quarter, Lamendola caused a shot to sail past the post before Saia cracked the stick of another shooter and forced a bullet to spin over the cage, which led to a shot-clock violation. 

Following her defensive work, Lamendola added her first goal of the contest in the 19th minute. Cutting around a defender, she raced towards the cage, avoided a slide from the left wing, and unleashed a missile on the move to knot the game at four.

Trading blows, Salisbury responded before Eversole drove home another equalizer after spinning a seed into the bottom right corner of the cage to tie the score at five.

After that point, CNU put together one of its finest defensive stands of the season. Kicking things off, Carys May picked off a failed clear near midfield. Then, Rusinko painted a masterpiece. First, she ate a dodge in the right alley and dropped the hammer to strip an attacker who lost her footing. Moments later, in the left wing, she punched a ball loose with a check, sidestepped a second Sea Gull, and won a race for the roller along the end line. 

After Salisbury returned to the offensive end, Hulse forced an attacker out wide. Although the Sea Gull tried to work her way back towards the cage, Saia flattened her along the crease as Chadwick pocketed a low-percentage bouncer to kill off the threat.

Following the defensive stand, the Captains grabbed a lead on the other end of the field. Eversole dropped a floater to Morrison, who made an out-stretched snag before spinning a shot inside the right post. Just over a minute later, Morrison drew a pair of defenders towards the top of the zone, which allowed Elena Sorkin to slip free on the interior.

After securing a pass, Sorkin bounced off a third Sea Gull before sniping from close range to snatch a 7-5 advantage.

Looking to keep the two-goal edge entering the break, Campbell put on a clinic. In just over 60 seconds of action, she came up with a pair of takeaways. On an initial push by the visitors, she stonewalled an attacker along the restraining line before winning a scrum for the loose ball. Later, she raced back and blanketed a midfielder along the left sideline while intercepting a failed clear, which punctuated the first half.

After the break, Christopher Newport continued to shine on the defensive side. Chadwick swallowed a worm-burner on an eight-meter attempt. Later, during a sustained rush by the Sea Gulls, Hulse stayed tight with an attacker behind the crease before Morrison knocked away a pass in the middle of a crowd. Fighting for possession, Campbell came up with the ground ball after shrugging off a violent altercation in the right alley.

Although Salisbury eventually slapped a pair of goals on the board to tie the score at seven, CNU had an answer. Eversole and Lamendola connected on two straight free-position attempts to regain a two-goal cushion in the 40th minute.

Staring at a 9-7 deficit, Salisbury tried to mount a comeback, but the Captains held firm on the defensive side. On an eight-meter attempt, Morrison and Saia pinched off the shooter as the ensuing rip sailed past the left post. Later, after the Sea Gulls pulled back within one, Lamy capped off the period in style.

On a failed clear by the visitors, the junior deflected a feed that Morrison plucked off the turf. Shortly thereafter, she suffocated a defender along the left sideline and caused a wild pass that ended up in Rusinko's stick to polish off the third period.

Still fostering a one-goal lead, Chadwick came up with two great saves in the early part of the fourth frame before Rozgonyi added her 100th career takeaway with tremendous pressure in the right wing. Unfortunately, Salisbury managed to find a little space before sinking the equalizer in the 50th minute.

Back on even ground, the hosts remained vigilant on the defensive side. Lamendola stuck to an attacker and caused a shot to catch the right pipe before Chadwick swallowed a pair of low liners. Unfortunately, with four minutes left on the clock, the Sea Gulls grabbed their first lead since the second quarter.

Needing some last-minute heroics, Christopher Newport stood tall against a pair of late rallies by the visitors. On an initial rush by the Sea Gulls, Morrison came through with a slick, over-the-head strip in the 57th minute. Although Salisbury regained possession, Chadwick walled off the left post, while May caused another attempt to sail over the crossbar.

Sadly, the Captains could not quite capitalize on the defensive efforts as the Sea Gulls drew a charge to force a turnover with just over 90 seconds left in regulation before running out the clock.

Overall, Salisbury held a 27-24 advantage in shots and a 23-10 lead in ground balls. Rusinko secured a pair of rollers for the Captains, while Morrison and Campbell had two apiece.

Christopher Newport will return to action next Saturday when the Captains host No. 9 Washington and Lee in the regular season finale at 3 p.m.

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