MEDFORD, Mass. -- Trailing by six in the first quarter, the fourth-ranked Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team could never quite dig out of its early hole as the Captains dropped a 19-11 decision to No. 8 Bowdoin during the NCAA Quarterfinals on Saturday evening at Tufts' Bello Field.

Headlining Christopher Newport's efforts on Saturday, Jamie Smith deposited five goals. The third-year star finished the season with 84 total strikes, equaling the 19th-most in Division III history. Meanwhile, Jackson Platner added a hat-trick of his own after converting on three of his four shots against the Polar Bears.

Along with the team's leading goal-scorers, Kevin Miller chipped in with five points, including three assists. With that performance, he capped off the year with 81 total helpers. That marked the ninth-highest total in Division III lore and the 11th-most by any collegiate lacrosse player in the history of the sport.

In addition to the offensive standouts, Mason Bellinger pocketed 19 saves, which matched his career-high and equaled the third-highest total by a Captain. Additionally, Warner Cabaniss won 10 faceoffs and finished his career with 1,108 victories. Only four players in Division III history ever won more faceoffs, while just eight collegiate lacrosse players at any level of the sport tallied more triumphs.

Rounding out his historic appearance, Cabaniss finished the contest with six ground balls. His final roller of the game was the 700th of his award-winning career. The four-time All-American became just the 11th player in Division III history to reach that benchmark.

With the setback, Christopher Newport concluded the 2025 campaign with an 18-4 record, while the victory bumped Bowdoin to 16-3 and sent the squad into the Final Four. The Polar Bears will square off against No. 1 Tufts, who reached the national semifinals with a 17-8 win over No. 10 Gettysburg in Saturday's opening bout.

In the first quarter, Bowdoin found its rhythm early and opened up a healthy 6-0 lead. Needing to stem the tide, CNU battled back on the defensive end. Between the pipes, Bellinger came through with a crucial man-down save before stoning a tracer in transition. AJ Rosacker also popped a ball loose after an attacker tried to dip underneath in the right alley before Mark Davison recovered the roller and started a successful clear.

Looking to capitalize on the other end, Fred Fulkerson connected with Brett Jackson, who slipped inside and whipped a missile around the hip of the keeper for the squad's first goal.

After Bowdoin responded, Christopher Newport fired back in the final minute of the opening quarter. Capitalizing on a screen by Jackson Shaw along the right post, Miller circled around the crowd and tucked one just inside the pipe to cut the team's deficit down to five at the end of the period.

In the second stanza, the Polar Bears got off to another quick start and eventually pulled out to a 10-2 advantage. Trying to keep the Captains within striking distance, Bellinger made three saves in the middle of the frame, including a gorgeous stop during an unsettled situation. Facing a pair of attackers, he prevented a shot along the right post before spinning back to the opposite side and stoning a point-blank rip.

Meanwhile, Colin DeGrassi stood toe-to-toe with a shooter in the right alley and forced an off-target attempt, while Rosacker and Zack Sands lowered their shoulders and bounced a Polar Bear to the turf during a physical altercation in the center of the zone. Shortly thereafter, Brett Kelley also bodied up an attacker on the interior while knocking a ball free before the offense regained its footing in the final minute of the period.

Inching back into the game, the Captains converted on a man-up opportunity after Miller used a slick, behind-the-back feed to find Smith, who snapped off a sidewinder on the inside. Then, less than 30 seconds later, Platner pushed up the left alley, spun back to his right, and beat the horn with a screamer that cut CNU's deficit down to six.

Following the break, Christopher Newport continued its assault in the third quarter. Less than three minutes into the period, Ethan Slusher unloaded a blast in traffic. Although the initial shot was stoned by the goalie, Platner plucked the deflection out of the air and immediately planted a pellet inside the left post for his second straight strike.

After a solid defensive stand that saw DeGrassi and Ryan Almassian strip an attacker along the crease, the Captains landed their fourth straight blow. Once again, Miller was at the center of the action. Isolated behind the cage, he faked a flip to Jackson, spun under a defender, and dunked over the keeper for a highlight-reel finish.

Unfortunately, Bowdoin was undeterred. After watching their lead shrink to four goals in the 35th minute, the Polar Bears went on a tear. In just 70 seconds, the squad landed three consecutive darts to regain a seven-goal cushion. 

Trying to regroup on the back end, Sands and Kelley blocked attempts during a lengthy defensive stand while helping cause a shot-clock violation. Shortly thereafter, Bellinger continued his showcase. During a 30-second blitz, he swallowed a high hammer along the right pipe before snatching a worm-burner off the turf to stymie another sustained attack by Bowdoin.

Despite the defensive work, the Polar Bears eventually collected another tally at the end of the third quarter before regaining a double-digit cushion early in the fourth stanza.

Refusing to go down quietly, CNU continued to attack in the final frame. Early on, Platner completed his hat-trick after pin-balling a shot off the keeper and the right post for his third dagger. Then, Miller and Smith teamed up on two goals in the middle of the period before Smith added one final blast off a feed from Shaw to cap off the scoring.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the field, Bellinger made a great save on a low-to-high heater before completing a physical clear by himself after battling through a pair of midfielders along the center stripe. Jayden Hardnett also blocked a shot in the left alley, Garrett Bralley won possession of a hard-fought roller along the crease, and John Santoro forced a turnover with pressure near the sideline before Ryan Cammarata jumped on the bouncer to give the squad one last possession.

Overall, Bowdoin held a 59-33 advantage in shots and a 48-33 lead in ground balls. The Polar Bears also won 19 of the game's 31 faceoffs.

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