2025 - 5th-Year Senior Season - Capped off his collegiate career while starring as one of the squad's leading short-stick defensive midfielders ... Took part in all 22 games while registering 35 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers ... Posted multiple takeaways in four of his appearances, including three strips in a win over No. 8 Gettysburg on March 14 ... Also caused two miscues in triumphs over Adrian on February 15, Williams on March 26, and Kean on April 12 ... Shined against nationally-ranked competition throughout the year, including a goal, takeaway, and three ground balls against No. 1 Tufts on March 20 ... Was equally impressive during the postseason ... Collected two rollers, blocked a shot, and added an assist during the Coastal Lacrosse Conference Championship at No. 2 Salisbury on May 4 ... Added two more ground balls in the opening bout of the NCAA Tournament during a 16-14 win over Grove City on May 10 ... Came back with another roller while blocking a shot in the NCAA Quarterfinals against No. 8 Bowdoin on May 17 ... Secured at least one ground ball in 17 of his appearances while also shining as a wing on faceoffs ... Matched his season-high with four rollers at No. 10 Washington and Lee on March 31 ... Had three ground balls to go along with a goal in a triumph at No. 18 Stevenson on February 22 as well ... Secured at least two ground balls in 11 games, including five straight from March 20 - April 5 ... Excelled as a member of the clearing unit and helped CNU rank 20th in the NCAA with a stellar .878 clearing percentage ... Was effective in transition while posting eight points, including five goals ... Tallied a pair of points in wins over Adrian on February 15 and Montclair State on March 29 ... Also landed a goal at Stockton on April 19 ... Finished with 10 shots and put seven on target ... Concluded his tenure ranked 10th in program history with 81 appearances and 11th with 171 ground balls.
2024 - Senior Season - Saw action as a defensive midfielder throughout his fourth year in Newport News ... Forced a turnover and grabbed a ground ball in a win over Ohio Wesleyan on February 25 ... Also added a takeaway at Mary Washington on April 17 before grabbing a roller in his next outing against Stockton on April 20 ... Returned to his roots as a faceoff specialist in the opening bout of the NCAA Tournament and won a duel against Cabrini on May 11 ... Also saw time in the third round of the national playoffs against No. 15 Stevens on May 12 ... Appeared in three battles against nationally-ranked competition, including a showdown at No. 3 Tufts on March 6 and a win over No. 4 Dickinson in the Mustang Classic on March 15 ... Helped lead the Captains to a stellar 10-1 record in his 11 appearances during the year.
2023 - Junior Season - Made an impact as a short-stick defensive midfielder after spending his first two years as a faceoff specialist ... Forced four turnovers during the season, including a pair against Catholic on March 4 ... Added a strip and three ground balls during a triumph over St. John Fisher on March 8 ... Came through with his final takeaway during a thrilling overtime victory against No. 7 Dickinson on March 18 ... Also saw action in nationally-ranked victories over No. 20 Stevenson on February 25 and No. 1 RIT on March 17 ... Snagged two ground balls in wins against Montclair State on March 11 and Mary Washington on April 22 ... Helped out as a wing on faceoffs during the year while helping Christopher Newport advance to the NCAA Final Four for the second time in school history ... Appeared in the Coastal Lacrosse Conference Semifinals against Kean on May 5 ... Took part in 11 total games during the year.
2022 - Sophomore Season - Made 16 appearances as a faceoff specialist during his second year with the Captains … Posted a .513 faceoff percentage after winning 60 of his 117 battles during the season … Kicked off the year with a 13-for-17 showcase against Roanoke on February 12 … Also collected a season-high five ground balls in that bout with the Maroons … Went 7-for-8 on faceoffs while contributing an assist in a win over Mary Washington on April 23 … Also added seven victories against No. 10 Gettysburg on March 18 … Captured nine of his 16 duels in a triumph over Whittier on March 27 … Scored a goal and won five faceoffs with four ground balls against No. 7 Lynchburg on March 19 … Also secured a pair of faceoffs in nationally-ranked bouts against No. 20 Hampden-Sydney on February 26 and No. 16 Williams on March 30 … Won at last 50 percent of his faceoffs in eight of his appearances during the year … Collected 28 ground balls and had two or more in seven of his appearances … Snatched four rollers and notched an assist against Southern Virginia on April 6 … Finished the year with three total points … Also unloaded six shots, including four on-target attempts … Saw time against six nationally-ranked foes during the season, including the squad’s win over No. 1 Salisbury on April 16.
2021 - Freshman Season - Stepped in as the team’s top faceoff specialist and orchestrated a record-setting campaign during his first year with the Captains … Led all freshmen in the NCAA with 356 faceoff attempts, while his 98 ground balls were the fifth-most by a first-year competitor in the country … His 98 ground balls and 182 faceoff victories both established new single-season freshman records at Christopher Newport … Put together an award-winning performance in just his fourth collegiate appearance at Washington (Md.) on March 13 … Won 13 of his 15 faceoff attempts, collected nine ground balls, and notched three points during the victory against the Shoremen … His .867 faceoff percentage marked the finest rate by a Captain with at least 15 attempts since 2015 … Named the Coast-to-Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Week on March 15 for that showcase … Won at least 10 faceoffs in 11 of his appearances, including a 13-for-19 masterpiece in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at No. 12 Stevenson on May 16 … Also had 12 faceoff wins in the Quarterfinals against No. 4 Lynchburg on May 22 and added a goal in the Final Four at No. 2 Salisbury on May 23 … Chipped in with seven points during the season, including a goal in three straight games from March 6-17 … Registered 10 ground balls in battles with Colorado College on April 4 and St. Mary’s (Md.) on May 1 … Came through with one of the most memorable defensive plays in program history after forcing a turnover to open overtime against No. 3 Lynchburg on March 20, which set up the game-winning goal … Finished the year with eight total takeaways … Ranked third in the conference in both ground balls and faceoff victories.
At Robinson - Was an All-Conference performer in multiple sports during his time with the Rams … Collected first-team All-League nods and second-team All-State plaudits for his work in lacrosse … Also served as a team captain … Helped lead Robinson to a pair of conference and district championships … Secured second-team All-Conference honors in football as well.
Personal - Zackary Sands is the son of Manny and Ruth Sands … Has an older brother, Alexander, and an older sister, Gabriela … Ezekiel Elliot is his favorite athlete, and NAV is his favorite musician … Kjell N. Lindgren is the most impressive person he has ever met … “The Dark Knight” is his favorite movie, and “Breaking Bad” is his favorite TV show.
