SALEM, Va. -- Taking advantage of Brookelyn Morrison's historic work on the draw and Faith O'Connor's career-high five-goal outburst, the Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team pieced together a spectacular effort to upend No. 17 Roanoke, 15-11, during a thrilling victory at Donald J. Kerr Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Feeding the offense while dominating in the center of the field, Morrison came through with 14 draw controls, which tied the single-game school record. That performance helped keep the ball away from Roanoke's high-octane attack, which entered the weekend ranked 15th nationally in shooting percentage and 25th in scoring offense.

Taking advantage of the extra possessions, Faith O'Connor put on a show. One week after netting her first career hat-trick against No. 21 Denison, she erupted for five strikes against the Maroons, including a clutch dagger in the fourth quarter to help quiet Roanoke's comeback bid. Incredibly, with her last two appearances, the sophomore star became just the seventh player in program history to post a hat-trick against two straight nationally-ranked foes. In that legendary club, she joined CNU Hall of Famers Meghan Harkey and Ashton Marshall, former All-Americans Julia Iapicca and Sarah Culver, and longtime standouts Zoe Dyer and Cat Leighty.

Along with O'Connor's efforts, Grace Taylor contributed her first collegiate hat-trick, Elena Sorkin added three daggers of her own, and Kate Lamendola collected two goals and an assist.

On the defensive side, Hadley Chadwick came through with 11 saves while setting a new career-high with six ground balls. Lamendola, Carys May, and Maddie Rusinko all had two takeaways apiece as well.

Adding her own historic footnote on Saturday, Madi Rozgonyi helped anchor the back line while starting her 75th consecutive game. That moved her into a tie with former legend Rachel Tomlinson for the second-longest "Iron Man" streak in program history.

Overall, the four-goal victory equaled CNU's most lopsided triumph against a top-20 foe in program history, matching a 12-8 win over No. 19 Mary Washington on April 10, 2021. Meanwhile, the squad's 15 strikes marked the team's second-highest output against a nationally-ranked opponent, trailing only a 17-goal explosion against No. 23 Lynchburg on March 24, 2022.

With the win, Christopher Newport improved to 6-8 on the season, while the setback dropped Roanoke to 8-5.

In the early going, the two teams traded rallies. For the Captains, O'Connor opened the scoring with a free-position dart just 29 seconds into regulation. Later, Sorkin sidestepped a double-team before skipping a seed through the keeper, but the hosts managed to slip out to a modest 3-2 lead in the sixth minute.

Pushing back, Christopher Newport orchestrated one of the finest offensive stretches in recent memory. Kicking off the rally, Lamendola dodged a defender, spun back to her left, and landed the equalizer in the seventh minute. Moments later, after Chadwick stoned an eight-meter rip and Gabby Saia cleared the defensive end at breakneck speed, the attack went back to work.

Capitalizing on Saia's speedy clear, Taylor joined the party with a rocket from the right side, which gave the visitors a 4-3 edge. Looking for some breathing room, Emilie Shoults launched the ensuing draw high into the air before Morrison tipped the ball to herself while out-jumping a pair of Maroons. Pushing the tempo, the junior All-American quickly found O'Connor, who circled around a defender before finishing through contact on the doorstep. 

Still motoring along, Sorkin broke out a fancy spin move to dodge a defender before driving home her second goal of the period. Shortly thereafter, Taylor uncorked a high-to-high hammer on a free-position attempt, while O'Connor blew through a pair of defenders before unleashing a missile on the move for an 8-3 lead with only seconds left in the opening period.

With just a little time remaining on the clock, CNU refused to lose any momentum. On the final draw of the stanza, Shoults had a lengthy battle with a Maroon before Rozgonyi swooped in and picked up the roller. Needing to work quickly, Maelyn Eversole took possession in the left corner, dipped underneath a defender, and burned a path towards the crease before scoring on the inside for a 9-3 advantage.

After the offense stole the show in the opening quarter, the defense went to work in the second period. Early on, Lamendola came through with a slick strip along the right side of the crease after an attacker tried to sneak by her. Later, Chadwick ate up a one-timer off an eight-meter attempt, while May rode a cutter on the interior before jostling the ball loose in the middle of the period.

Shortly thereafter, Rusinko shadowed a shooter who tried to slip free. Sticking with the Maroon through a series of dodges, she eventually forced a low-percentage shot, which Chadwick handled in the crease.

Despite CNU's work on the defensive side, Roanoke eventually found its rhythm. Although O'Connor landed her fourth blow in the 26th minute, the hosts chipped their deficit down to two at 10-8.

Needing to regroup, Christopher Newport stepped up on both ends of the field. First, on the defensive side, the Captains clamped down on a lengthy push by the Maroons. During the rally, Rozgonyi broke up a feed towards the center of the zone. Although Roanoke regained possession, Rusinko quickly knocked away a pass in the right alley to stymie the surge.

Then, with less than 30 seconds left in the first half, Lamendola drilled a free-position goal to grab an 11-8 cushion entering the break.

In the third quarter, CNU went right back to work. On Roanoke's first possession, Rusinko was relentless at the top of the zone. During a 30-second window, she defended three different Maroons while preventing a pass towards the interior. Eventually, her pressure paid off as she punched a ball loose on the right side before May helped secure the roller while battling through a crowd along the right sideline.

Following the defensive stand, the hosts were hit with a card, and the Captains immediately pounced on the power play. Taking advantage, Page Henry connected with Taylor, who burned a bouncer inside the left post for a 12-8 lead.

Returning to the defensive end, Christopher Newport continued to suffocate the competition. During a short-handed situation, Molly Campbell elevated with a leaping interception in the center of the zone. Shortly thereafter, Morrison blew up two straight eight-meter attempts after using a stick-lift on the first try before deflecting the second rip with an outstretched stab on the right side.

Later, Jess Hulse blanketed a cutter on the interior, May snagged an errant feed in the right corner, and Chadwick stoned a quick-hitter in the final seconds of the quarter.

Although Roanoke eventually chopped its deficit back down to two entering the final frame, Christopher Newport never let the hosts get any closer. During an early push by the Maroons, Rusinko ended the rally with a momentum-turning strip after punching away a pass before securing the loose ball.

Taking advantage of the unsettled situation, CNU quickly flipped the field. On the clear, Campbell dished the ball to O'Connor, who bounced off a defender before snapping off a screamer while flanked by four Maroons to complete her five-goal afternoon.

Staying vigilant on the defensive side, Saia pinned an attacker's stick to the ground before May rushed in and stole a pass that clanked off the turf. Campbell also put together a tough ride to blanket a Maroon along the crease before helping win a scrum for a loose ball in the right corner. Additionally, Chadwick chipped in with three straight saves, including a tremendous stop after a shooter wiggled free on the doorstep.

With time winding down, Henry stretched the lead back to four. After fighting through a pair of defenders at the top of the zone, she secured an eight-meter attempt and converted a high-to-low laser for a 14-10 advantage with five minutes left in regulation.

Although Roanoke fired back in the 57th minute, the Captains put an end to the comeback bid. On the ensuing draw, Morrison jumped over a Maroon to snag a flip from Shoults before the attack went to work on the clock. The visitors flashed their passing skills while using almost their entire 90-second allotment to cut crucial time off the scoreboard.

With little left to prove, May broke up Roanoke's last-ditch effort with a pick along the crease before Sorkin beat the buzzer with a last-second stinger to ice the 15-11 triumph.

Overall, both squads uncorked 30 shots, while CNU held a 23-16 lead in ground balls. The Captains also controlled 16 of the game's 29 draws, highlighted by Morrison's historic work.

Christopher Newport will return to action on April 12 with a 1 p.m. showdown at Mary Washington.

---ISH---