The Basics
Score: No. 17 Roanoke 12, Christopher Newport 7
Records: Maroons 11-2; Captains 7-6
Location: Salem, Va.

The Lead: After a close game early on, the No. 17 Roanoke women's lacrosse team pulled away late for a 12-7 win over Christopher Newport in non-conference action at Kerr Stadium on Saturday night.

How it Happened/Highlights:

• Tiernan Connor took a pass from Lilly Blair just over a minute into the game to put the Maroons ahead 1-0 over the visiting Captains. CNU answered less than a minute later before a pair of Maroon goals staked the home team to a 3-1 lead. A late goal in the first quarter by the Captains was answered by Blair, unassisted as Roanoke led 4-2 after the first 15 minutes. 
• After Libby Bowman put the Maroons ahead 5-2, three-straight goals by CNU tied the score at 5-5 with 7:27 left in the first half. However, that was the beginning of a 27:21 scoring drought for CNU that stretched into the fourth quarter, The Maroons didn't have to wait to add more to their total with a pair of goals by Kate Loughran and Natalie Mason to end the first half.
• Only two goals were scored in the third quarter with Sydney Harrison and Tracey Benzing each adding to Roanoke's total and giving the Maroons a 9-5 lead.
• CNU answered to start the fourth with two goals, the second coming at 6:01 to cut the Roanoke lead down to just 9-7. However, three goals in the final three minutes gave the Maroons a cushion as Benzing (unassisted) and Blair (2x assisted by Bowman) gave Roanoke their final score of 12-7.
• Blair had a game for the Maroons with four goals, five draw control wins, two ground balls, an assist, and a caused turnover.
• Sophia Chickering was able to grab six draw control wins and a ground ball.
• Kyleigh Chickering got the win and improved to 11-2 on the season making nine saves.

Up Next: 

• Roanoke begins the final week of its regular season on Tuesday, April 18 when they host Averett at 4 p.m. at Kerr Stadium.
• The game is being played to support Morgan's Message. The mission of the organization is to "amplify stories, resources and expertise to strengthen student-athlete mental health, builds a community by and for athletes through peer-to-peer conversations and provides a platform for advocacy."
• To read more about what Morgan's Message is all about, please visit www.morgansmessage.org