NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Six different Captains found the back of the cage and nine players collected at least one point as the fourth-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team stormed past Virginia Wesleyan, 7-0, on a rainy Wednesday evening at Jennings Family Stadium.

Leading the onslaught, Ellie Nuckols recorded her first career multi-goal effort, while Courtney Hughlett, Riley Iasiello, and Kelly Via chipped in with three points apiece. Meanwhile, Emily Evans tallied her second game-winning goal of the year, and Mari de Castro polished off the scoring with her first collegiate strike.

With her goal, Evans became just the 20th player in program history to reach 50 career points.

Along with Evans, Via carved out her own unique spot in the history books on Wednesday. The second-year star picked up her first three career points with a goal and an assist during a two-minute surge in the fourth quarter. Three years earlier, her older sister, Gwendolyn, notched a pair of assists for the Captains during her debut campaign in 2022. Together, they became just the sixth set of sisters to record a point at CNU, joining Ainsley and Bailey Miller, Lainey and Sierra Pratzner, Corey and Kelsey Rigby, Jordan and Samantha Snider, and current teammates Courtney and Caroline Hughlett.

Overall, the 7-0 victory marked the most lopsided triumph for the Captains since Christopher Newport posted a 10-0 victory over Virginia Wesleyan on September 25, 2023.

With the win, CNU improved to 4-0 on the season, while the setback dropped the Marlins to 1-4.

Although the hosts dominated on the offensive side throughout Wednesday's contest, it was actually Christopher Newport's defensive unit that pieced together the first highlight. Just a minute into regulation, Virginia Wesleyan generated the game's first scoring opportunity, but Morgan Shealer put an end to the threat in an impressive fashion.

First, the sophomore star caught up to a streaker, raced back into the circle, and blocked a shot on a breakaway. Although the visitors eventually earned a corner, Shealer got her stick on another shot along the right post before brushing aside a second-chance opportunity just moments later.

After the Captains gained possession, Kendall Gibson lofted an aerial to Iasiello, who bolted up the left sideline and cleared the defensive end.

Just two minutes later, Christopher Newport took advantage of the possession. Following a corner, Caroline Hughlett cut through a crowd and sent a pass towards the right pipe. After Lindsey Loar settled the roller, she cut back around a defender and centered a feed to Iasiello.

In the midst of a scrum, Iasiello redirected the pass to Evans, who sank a screamer along the left post to gain a fast 1-0 lead.

Although Virginia Wesleyan kept the Captains off the board for the rest of the opening period, CNU's defense never let the visitors land a counterstrike. After the Marlins worked the ball into the circle in the middle of the stanza, Avery Mast intercepted a feed and weaved her way through traffic before working up the right sideline.

Later, in the waning moments of the first quarter, Virginia Wesleyan earned its third corner of the contest, but Kate Engle did masterful work on the back end. After Courtney Hughlett prevented a shot with tight pressure along the left side of the arc, Engle doubled the attacker and ripped possession away. Although the visitors eventually regained control, Engle stayed with the play and stole the ball from a second Marlin near the left sideline before clearing the zone.

In the second quarter, CNU gained a little breathing room with a pair of goals. In the 19th minute, Mast unloaded a blistering smash from the top of the arc. Eventually, her howitzer handcuffed a defender and bounced to Nuckols, who quickly capitalized on the doorstep for her first goal.

Later in the period, Nuckols came through again. This time, Loar jump-started the attack with a laser from the left side before Nuckols cleaned up on the interior with a second-chance strike along the post for a 3-0 edge entering halftime.

Following the break, the Captains continued to attack. Sticking to the same script that worked in the second quarter, Mast hammered a high-rising rocket towards the right post off a corner attempt. Swooping in to collect the rebound, Courtney Hughlett secured possession and whipped a low liner through the defense for her fifth goal of the year.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the field, CNU never let the Marlins find a rhythm on the offensive side. On a deep run early in the period, Gigi Stephan grabbed a pass and punched it out of the circle. Later, Hailey Ward stole possession from a midfielder along the center stripe, Via won a footrace for a long-hit into the right corner, and Ella Fallen made a kick-save on a shot near the right pipe.

Still holding a 4-0 lead entering the fourth quarter, the Captains eased into the victory with more offensive fireworks in the final stanza. In the 53rd minute, Stephan threaded a 60-yard seed through seven Marlins along the right sideline. On the receiving end, Via secured the pass in stride while flying into the circle.

Although Virginia Wesleyan's last defender managed to interrupt Via's surge, the sophomore simply cut back and dished the ball to Iasiello, who was trailing the play. After collecting the ball, the third-year standout slammed a one-timer past the keeper for a 5-0 edge.

After setting up the squad's fifth goal, Via was rewarded for her selflessness just two minutes later. On CNU's next push, Emma Weber bounced a feed past a defender to Courtney Hughlett, who chipped the ball through traffic along the top of the arc.

With some room to work, the reigning All-American connected with Via, who deflected the ball through four Marlins for her first collegiate goal.

Entering the final minute of regulation, Christopher Newport turned to its freshmen for one last strike. Setting up the play, Brylee Johnston forced her way through a defender to gain some space near the left sideline. Eventually, she connected with de Castro, who was pinned to the end line.

With little space to work, de Castro flipped a feed over a defender to Victoria Trejo-Wearden, who battled for position on the interior. Corralling the pass, Trejo-Wearden handed it back to de Castro, who scooted inside and scored from point-blank range for her first career tally.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 41-4 advantage in shots and a 19-3 lead in corners. Lily Kerr earned the victory with 30 minutes of pristine work in the first half before Fallen and Anna Mosciano closed out the contest with their own scoreless periods after the break.

CNU will return to action on Saturday at 11 a.m. when the Captains travel to Ohio Wesleyan for the first of back-to-back battles in the Buckeye State.

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