SALISBURY, Md. -- Overcoming an early five-goal deficit, the fourth-ranked Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team fought back and forced overtime, but No. 2 Salisbury landed the game-winner just 40 seconds into the extra session to cap off the back-and-forth marathon and lock up the Coastal Lacrosse Conference Championship on Sunday afternoon at Sea Gull Stadium.

Headlining the squad's remarkable comeback bid, Brett Jackson collected his 10th hat-trick of the season, including the game-tying missile with 90 seconds left in regulation. He also notched his 25th career man-up goal, tying former All-American Dylan Rice for the all-time program record.

Along with Jackson, Jamie Smith netted a hat-trick, while Kevin Miller and Fred Fulkerson had four points apiece.

Warner Cabaniss continued his assault on the history books as well. The senior All-American won 18 of his 25 faceoffs. He finished the game with 1,066 career victories, moving him to seventh in Division III history and 11th among all collegiate lacrosse players. He also moved past former UVA legend Petey LaSalla for the most wins in Virginia state history. LaSalla won 1,050 faceoffs for the Cavaliers from 2019-23.

Meanwhile, on the back end, Mason Bellinger pocketed 14 saves and matched his career-high with six ground balls. He also chipped in with a momentum-turning man-down interception in the second quarter to keep the Sea Gulls within reach.

With the setback, Christopher Newport dropped to 16-3 on the season, while the victory bumped Salisbury to 19-0 and earned the Sea Gulls an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The playoff bracket will be released during a selection show on NCAA.com at 9 p.m. tonight.

Trailing by two entering the second half, CNU flipped the script in the third quarter. After the two squads swapped goals to start the period, the visitors found their rhythm. With the shot-clock winding down following a lengthy offensive possession, Miller spun over a defender in the right alley and deposited a low-to-high heater just before the horn sounded. Moments later, after the Sea Gulls were hit with a pair of penalties, Smith tiptoed along the crease and dunked over the keeper during a 6-on-4 situation to knot the score at eight.

Although the hosts responded with their ninth goal, Christopher Newport had an answer. Landing another equalizer, Fulkerson pushed up the right alley and handcuffed the keeper with a cross-fire rocket inside the left post. Then, after Bellinger came through with a sliding save to stymie Salisbury's ensuing surge, the Captains snatched their first lead of the game.

Picking up the pace, Zack Sands cleared the defensive end before handing possession back to Fulkerson. Keeping the Sea Gulls on their heels, the sophomore dished a feed to Smith, who faked an initial shot, reloaded, and buzzed a bullet past the keeper's head to grab a 10-9 edge entering the fourth quarter.

Looking for a little more breathing room, Jackson Platner struck in the 48th minute. Dipping under a defender in the left alley, he cut inside and snapped a shot around the goalie's hip to secure an 11-9 lead.

Meanwhile, on the defensive end, Christopher Newport pushed back against the high-powered Salisbury attack. Mark Davison was draped all over a shooter and prevented a pair of attempts along the crease, while Rory Keverline stripped a Sea Gull who attempted to slip underneath in the left alley.

Still facing a relentless assault by the hosts, AJ Rosacker deflected a shot from the top of the zone before Daniel Siaton collected a spinner in traffic. Later, during a shorthanded situation, the two standouts stepped up again. This time, Rosacker knocked a ball loose along the right post before Siaton blocked a blast with the back of his helmet to silence the nation's top-ranked man-up unit.

Unfortunately, Salisbury eventually broke through and slapped three straight goals on the board during a four-minute surge to steal a late 12-11 advantage.

After battling back from a five-goal deficit in the first half, the Captains quickly regrouped and overcame their one-goal shortage. With 90 seconds left in regulation, Platner set a screen that bottled up a pair of defenders and allowed Fulkerson to roll over top. With some room to work, he connected with Jackson, who landed the game-tying tracer from the right side.

With time left on the clock, Christopher Newport polished off regulation with one final defensive stand. Setting up a last-second push, the Sea Gulls called a timeout with four seconds remaining in the period. Quickly slamming the door on Salisbury's plans, Rosacker and Colin DeGrassi wrestled an attacker to the ground before a shot could be taken.

Sadly, the Sea Gulls fired back in overtime. Just 40 seconds into the extra session, the hosts capitalized on an off-speed attempt along the left post to steal the 13-12 victory.

Overall, Salisbury held a 50-46 advantage in shots during the game, while CNU led in ground balls, 46-40. The Captains also captured 19 of the game's 29 faceoffs.

Long before the marathon battle came to a close, Christopher Newport was tested on the defensive end in the opening quarter. Working quickly on back-to-back rallies, the Sea Gulls uncorked a pair of shots in transition, but Bellinger stoned the first rocket before Davison made a slick snag on a pipe-shot during the second run. Then, moments later, Sands blocked a blast before recovering the loose ball after Siaton saved it from slipping over the left sideline with a diving snag into Salisbury's bench.

Continuing the defensive work, Brett Kelley swallowed an attacker along the left post and forced a no-look, low-percentage, behind-the-back attempt before Chris Lewis stripped a second Sea Gull along the baseline.

Unfortunately, Salisbury continued to attack and eventually notched three straight goals in the middle of the period. Fighting back, Fulkerson buried an attacker in the right alley before DeGrassi swooped in and cleaned up the play while punching the ball away from the carnage. Following the takeaway, Sands cleared the defensive end and found Ethan Slusher, who split two defenders with a lefty rip from long range.

After the Captains lit up the scoreboard, the hosts retaliated with the final two goals of the first period and added another strike at the start of the second stanza to steal a 6-1 lead.

Needing to find an answer, CNU slowly clawed back into the battle. First, on the defensive end, the visitors flashed their physicality. On an early rally in the second quarter, Sands lowered his shoulder and knocked a shooter off-balance before Bellinger plucked a bouncer. Minutes later, DeGrassi leveled another Sea Gull during a scramble in the left corner before Sands came back and snatched the roller along the baseline.

Meanwhile, the offense also found its rhythm. In the 22nd minute, Platner sidestepped a defender at the top of the zone, switched to his left hand, and unleashed a dagger from deep. Less than 30 seconds later, Fulkerson caught a flip while steaming down the alley. Catching the Sea Gulls on their heels, he tossed the ball to Smith, who elevated along the crease and drove a high-flying hammer into the top right corner of the cage.

Still rolling along, Jackson posted his record-tying 25th career man-up goal after launching a screamer from the right alley, which pulled the visitors within two at 6-4.

After that point, both squads traded the next two goals, including another snipe from Slusher. Meanwhile, Bellinger wrapped up the first half in style on the defensive end. After the junior goalie made back-to-back kick saves on a lengthy possession by the Sea Gulls, he came back and added an interception during a shorthanded situation to keep the deficit at two entering the break.

Although Christopher Newport was able to dig out of the hole with a huge third-quarter rally, Salisbury had just enough left to lock up the title in overtime.

For their work during the playoffs, Cabaniss, Rosacker, and Siaton all earned a spot on the CLC's All-Tournament Team.

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