NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Trailing by three midway through the third quarter, the 22nd-ranked Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team dug in and pieced together a remarkable second-half rally to overcome the deficit and grab an 11-9 victory over Mary Washington during a Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference clash on a sizzling Saturday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.

Staring at an 8-5 deficit in the 37th minute, CNU capitalized on a well-balanced attack to flip the script and complete the comeback. During a four-goal surge that carried the Captains into the fourth quarter, four different players found the back of the cage, including a go-ahead bullet by Brookelyn Morrison. Later, Faith O'Connor added the final two daggers at the end of regulation to seal the come-from-behind triumph.

Overall, O'Connor finished the contest with a game-high four goals, while Morrison had two strikes and a pair of assists. Elena Sorkin also landed two blows for the victors, including her 60th goal of the year. She became just the sixth player in program history to hit that benchmark, joining CNU Hall of Famers Kaitlin Quigley and Ashton Marshall as well as longtime legends Sarah Culver, Syd Guidi, and Kristen Conques.

Saturday's eruption was also Sorkin's 12th straight game with at least two goals, tying the fourth-longest run in school history.

Equally effective on the defensive side, Hadley Chadwick matched her season-high with 11 saves. During the contest, the senior star also eclipsed 4,000 career minutes, becoming just the 25th goalie in Division III history to reach that milestone.

Along with Chadwick's work in the crease, five different Captains collected multiple takeaways. Kate Lamendola led the squad with three strips, while Morrison, Molly Campbell, Jess Hulse, and Gabby Saia had two apiece.

With the victory, Christopher Newport improved to 12-4 on the season, including 1-0 in league action. The setback dropped Mary Washington to 8-7 with a 1-2 mark against conference foes.

After the Eagles landed the first two goals of the third quarter, the visitors slipped out to an 8-5 lead. Needing to respond, the Captains began to chip away late in the period.

In the 41st minute, Annabella Burke secured a free-position attempt and bounced a shot through the goalie's wickets to steal back some momentum. Shortly thereafter, Lamendola continued the assault just before the end of the stanza. On the play, the junior slipped inside and uncorked a high-to-low hammer that buzzed over the head of a defender and under the legs of the keeper to cut the deficit down to one.

Meanwhile, on the back end, Christopher Newport suffocated the Mary Washington attack. Sam Murphy wrenched the ball loose from an attacker with tight defense along the crease before Campbell leveled a midfielder who attempted to catch a pass in the center of the zone. Later, Morrison and Brooklynn Peterson pinched off a midfielder on a failed clear near the left sideline before Murphy stonewalled an attacker along the crease, which allowed Lamendola to storm in and strip the Eagle from behind.

Still trailing by one entering the fourth, CNU went back to work in the final stanza. Just 30 seconds into the period, Sorkin put enough torque on a shot to spin it through the goalie's stick and knot the score at eight.

Later in the period, Morrison tucked a heater between the goalie and the right post off an eight-meter attempt, which handed the hosts a lead in the 53rd minute. Although Mary Washington retaliated just over a minute later, Christopher Newport fired right back.

After a timeout, CNU came out of the stoppage on a mission. Following a successful clear, Morrison looped a feed over the defense to O'Connor, who was cutting down the center of the zone. As soon as she secured the pass, the junior unloaded a rocket on the run to regain a 10-9 cushion.

Moments later, O'Connor came back for more. Taking matters into her own hands, she dodged two defenders while reversing course in the middle of a crowd. After wiggling free, she rolled towards the cage and fired a bouncer through the goalie, which handed the squad an 11-9 lead.

With time winding down, Christopher Newport kept Mary Washington off the board with fantastic defense over the final three minutes of regulation. On a quick clear, the visitors broke loose on a 3-on-2 surge, but Murphy and Saia remained calm. Eventually, Murphy cut off the initial rush in the right alley and forced a pass. In the center, Saia badgered a second attacker before the two Captains met up on a successful double-team near the right post, which killed the play.

Later, on another clear, Lexi Larson stepped in front of a streaker and caused the Eagle to cut back along the right sideline. Trailing the play, Morrison quickly caught up to the action and came through with a huge trail-check to punch the ball loose and end Mary Washington's final surge of the game.

Overall, Christopher Newport held a 32-26 advantage in shots and a 21-18 lead in ground balls. The Captains also secured 13 of the game's 22 draws, including five by Morrison. Additionally, Emilie Shoults snatched a pair in the fourth quarter to help complete the victory.

Long before the game came to a close, CNU got off to a fast start in the opening period. On the offensive end, O'Connor kicked off the scoring with a bouncer on the doorstep in the fifth minute. Later, Peterson buried a bullet under the crossbar before Sorkin skipped an eight-meter missile into the bottom left corner of the cage.

Meanwhile, on the back side, Campbell thwarted an early rush by the visitors after deflecting a pass in the right corner. Saia and Jess Hulse also clamped down on a clear attempt after driving a midfielder towards the left sideline, while Chadwick pocketed an incredible save during a one-on-one showdown to stop a fast-break opportunity.

Later in the period, Hulse intercepted a pass along the right side of the crease, while Chadwick gobbled up another high heater before brushing aside a waist-high rocket.

Holding a 3-2 lead at the end of the first quarter, CNU stretched its edge early in the second stanza after Morrison skipped a seed into the bottom right corner of the cage. Unfortunately, Mary Washington quickly stole the momentum with a three-goal spurt, which gave the Eagles a 5-4 cushion later in the frame.

Looking to retaliate, Laci Welch got into the body of an attacker and jostled the ball loose before bolting up the left sideline on a successful clear. Taking advantage of the ensuing possession, O'Connor dodged one defender before drawing a late slide. Eventually, she spun around both Eagles before landing a rip from the right alley to even the score at five.

After that point, Mary Washington broke the deadlock just before the end of the first half before erupting for two more goals after the break. Unfazed by the assault, Christopher Newport slowly chipped away at the deficit and overcame the second-half hole on the way to the thrilling comeback victory.

CNU will return to action on April 25 for a 1 p.m. showdown at No. 4 Salisbury.

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