NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - On late Saturday afternoon, the Cabrini University men's lacrosse team was bested by Christopher Newport University in the opening round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Christoper Newport entered the bracket as the sixth ranked team in the nation, holding a 14-5 record and falling to top ranked program Salisbury University in the Coastal Lacrosse Conference Championship game. The Cavaliers finish their eventual season with a 15-5 record one week after claiming the Atlantic East Conference title.

How it Happened

• Christopher Newport scored twice inside the first two minutes of game play.
• Tommy Vaughan scored Cabrini's first goal, netting an unassisted tally at 12:47. Peter Hewitt came up with a contested faceoff ground ball and helped the Cavaliers clear, then fed Tommy Vaughan up line. Vaughan wound up for a shot that entered the upper right corner of the net.
• After the Captains took a 3-1 lead, Connor Herraiz scored 14 seconds later on a goal helped by Dillon McManus. John McCormick won the faceoff, bumping the ball in Brett Gougler's direction for a ground ball. The Cavs found Sebastian Tobias ahead, who passed to Dillon McManus, who then assisted Connor Herraiz' goal from the opposite post.
• Christopher Newort dominated the second and third quarter, completing six goal runs in each period to take a commanding 15-2 lead. 
• Cabrini netted the final goal of the third period, a Griffin Ganster tally helped by Connor Herraiz. The Cavaliers strung together several passes in search of an open shot, finding Ganster with plenty of space to score Cabrini's third goal.
• Tommy Vaughan capitalized on a man-up chance early in the fourth quarter, as the Cavs trailed 4-16. Vaughan skipped a shot through the Captians' keeper after recieving a pass from Austin Bolton.
• Cabrini scored two goals in the middle of the fourth before CNU closed out the contest. Austin Bolton snuck a shot past the goalkeeper for the first of the pair, assisted by Griffin Ganster, as Connor Herraiz wrapped around the right side of the goal for the second tally.

Team Stats

• Christopher Newport outshot Cabrini 55 to 24, and placed twice as many shots on goal, 30 to 15.
• Cabrini made 10 saves to CNU's 9.
• The Cavaliers were successful on 13 of 21 clear attempts, while the Captains were 22 for 24.
• Cabrini corralled 34 ground balls to Christopher Newport's 31.
• Both teams went 1-4 on extra man opportunities.
• The Cavaliers claimed 16 of a possible 28 faceoffs. 

Cavalier Leaders
Goals: Herraiz/Vaughan (2), Ganster/Bolton (1)
Assists: Bolton/McManus/Herraiz/Ganster (1)
Points: Herraiz (3), Ganster/Bolton/Vaughan (2)
Shots: Herraiz (7), Bolton (5), Vaughan (4)
Ground Balls: McCormick (6), Skipper (5), Williams/Kirk/Gerzabek/Hewitt (3)
Caused Turnovers: Riegler (2), Hewitt/Herraiz/Gougler (1)
Faceoffs: McCormick (16-28)
Saves: Skipper (9), Waldron (1)