NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Capitalizing on a slew of penalty corners and a pair of historic efforts by Emma Weber and Caroline Hughlett, the sixth-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team scored early and often while storming past Bridgewater, 6-0, during the season opener on a warm Friday evening at Jennings Family Stadium.

During the contest, Weber struck twice on a pair of corners in the middle two periods to headline an incredible debut. With that performance, the freshman phenom became just the seventh Captain to register a multi-goal effort in her first collegiate appearance. In that exclusive club, she joined a list of luminaries including Jonelle Hanson (2001), Beverly Waller (2004), Anne Gehring (2005), Lindsay Hendricks (2009), Lily Bryngelson (2017), and Katie Abendschoen (2021).

Along with Weber, Caroline Hughlett helped steal the show on Friday evening. The third-year star collected four assists, which equaled the second-highest total in program history. It also marked the finest effort by a Captain since CNU Hall of Famer Belle Tunstall set the school record with five helpers against Gwynedd-Mercy in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on November 7, 2012.

In addition to the historic performers, Courtney Hughlett produced her first career multi-goal effort, while Lindsey Loar and Kate Engle added one strike apiece.

Meanwhile, Emily Evans carved out her own spot in the history books on Friday. Solidifying her reputation as an opening day assassin, she registered an assist in the second quarter. With that performance, she became the first player in school history to notch a point in four straight season openers. Previously, the senior standout found the back of the cage in the squad's lid-lifters in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Overall, Christopher Newport picked up its fifth straight opening day victory dating back to 2021.

From the outset, CNU set the tone after taking advantage of a corner in the fourth minute. After Evans inserted the ball, Morgan Shealer and Courtney Hughlett moved it around the arc before Avery Mast gained control on the interior. Keeping the defense on its heels, Mast connected with Caroline Hughlett, who quickly redirected the roller to Loar.

After the goalie and a defender hit the turf to prevent a worm-burner, the junior went with an aerial attack and floated a dagger past a pair of out-stretched sticks for the game's opening goal.

Two minutes later, the Captains went back to work. This time, Bridgewater attempted to clear its defensive zone, but Riley Iasiello intercepted a pass in the left corner. With possession, she slipped a feed to Caroline Hughlett, who connected with her sister while threading a needle between two defenders. After securing the ball, Courtney Hughlett avoided a hard-charging Eagle while unloading an absolute missile towards the right side of the cage for her first strike of the contest.

Holding an early advantage, Christopher Newport never let Bridgewater back into the game. Closing out the opening quarter with a solid defensive effort, Kendall Gibson came through with a lunging interception to pick off a long-hit along the 25 before Mast picked the pockets of an attacker who attempted to sneak inside the left side of the circle.

Later, Ellie Nuckols jumped a passing lane and stole a feed near midfield, while Brylee Johnston snatched a centering pass along the offensive 25 after the Eagles tried to change direction at the tail end of the period.

In the second stanza, the Captains continued to keep a tight lid on the Bridgewater attack. Looking to spring a breakaway, the Eagles sent a screamer down the center of the turf, but Nuckols grabbed it just before it found its way to an attacker on the inside of the circle. Later, Courtney Hughlett bottled up another surge along the 25 before Iasiello completed a clear up the right sideline.

Following the defensive highlights, the hosts added their third goal just before halftime. After Weber secured a corner with pressure along the right side of the arc, she quickly capitalized on her own hustle. Serving as the inserter on the ensuing play, the freshman eventually found Evans, who chipped the ball past a defender, found a seam, and returned it to Weber. Back in control, she punched it home along the left post for her first collegiate goal.

Holding a 3-0 lead entering the break, CNU doubled its offensive output with three more lasers in the third quarter. On a penalty corner, Evans found Caroline Hughlett, who rolled to her right before shoveling a feed back to her sister. With some room at the top of the zone, Courtney Hughlett unleashed another howitzer that deflected off a defender's stick and tucked into the back of the cage for her second goal.

Less than two minutes later, the Captains struck on one final corner. This time, Courtney Hughlett used a slick, behind-the-back, no-look flip to find Mast, who launched a rocket towards the left post. Perfectly positioned, Weber scooted in from the end line and deflected the ball just enough to send it spinning inside the pipe for her second tally of the game.

With little left to prove, CNU added one final exclamation point at the end of the third quarter. In the 44th minute, Caroline Hughlett ripped the ball away from a defender at the top of the circle and sent it to Engle. Screening the goalie, the first-year standout grabbed the feed and fired a backhand bullet underneath the keeper for her first career strike.

Keeping the pressure on Bridgewater's back line early in the fourth quarter, Victoria Trejo-Wearden had a quick-hitter stymied by a diving stop on the doorstep, while Kelly Via had a dart batted down by the keeper's pad near the left post. 

Following the surge by CNU, Bridgewater tried to crack the scoreboard late in the fourth quarter. With a dangerous 2-on-1 developing in the 57th minute, Shealer backpedaled down the right sideline to stay in front of an attacker before forcing a pass, which Weber collected in the left corner. With pressure still mounting, the Eagles gained their best opportunity of the game with a minute left in regulation.

Earning a corner, the visitors had a solid chance, but the Captains threw a blanket over the field. On the play, Nuckols rushed out to the top of the circle to prevent an initial shot before Shealer kept pressure along the left side of the arc. Although an Eagle managed to uncork a shot, Via played it perfectly as the sophomore stayed low and blocked the blast before any damage could be done.

Later, with just seconds remaining in regulation, Bridgewater worked the ball back into the circle, but Gibson grabbed a deflection, weaved through traffic, and spun into the left corner to polish off the shutout.

Between the pipes, Lily Kerr earned the victory with 39 minutes of scoreless action, while Ella Fallen and Anna Mosciano combined for 21 minutes of pristine work during the final two quarters. That marked CNU's first three-goalie shutout since Olivia Davis, Gabi Gray, and Mary Grace Humes combined to blank Southern Virginia, 8-0, on October 23, 2019.

The Captains will return to action on Sunday at 1 p.m. when they face No. 5 Johns Hopkins in a neutral-site tilt at Mary Washington's Battleground Turf Field.

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