There are season openers, and then there are statements.
On a crisp February evening at Jennings Family Stadium, Christopher Newport women’s lacrosse did not simply begin its 2026 campaign. The Captains announced it. With pace, preparation, and precision, CNU overwhelmed Berry College, 23-2, in a performance that was equal parts explosive and disciplined.
The victory also carried historic significance. Head coach Lisa Valentine secured her 100th win leading the Captains, a milestone that reflects years of steady growth and championship expectations within the program.
“It’s exciting to come out the way that we did,” Valentine said postgame. “It took a lot of work to get to this point. Summer conditioning, fall training, winter workouts, and spring practices. It feels good to finally go out and see how we fared as a team.”
First-Quarter Firestorm
If there were any early-season nerves, they vanished quickly.
CNU erupted for 12 goals in the opening quarter alone, blitzing a Berry squad that entered the matchup fresh off a 20-4 season-opening victory of its own. The Captains wasted no time attacking the Vikings’ zone defense, slicing through it with sharp ball movement and relentless off-ball cuts.
Faith O’Connor (#14) set the tone immediately, scoring the first goal of the season before adding another and assisting one more in the early surge. By the end of the night, the junior attacker had compiled five goals and one assist in a commanding season debut.
“It definitely feels really good,” O’Connor said. “Coming off last year, the focus going into today was to play fast. I definitely feel like we did that.”
She was far from alone.
Elena Sorkin (#22), Drew Stanley (#29), and O’Connor each recorded hat tricks as the offense rolled. Stanley’s goal with just 0.3 seconds left before halftime extended CNU’s lead to double digits and symbolized the team’s refusal to ease up, regardless of the score.
Preparation Meets Execution
The offensive outburst was no accident.
Valentine noted that Berry was expected to open in a zone defense, prompting the Captains to dedicate significant practice time to attacking that specific look. The result was a composed, confident unit that looked midseason-ready in February.
“We did a lot of prep this week on how to attack that style of defense,” Valentine said. “And we also practiced what adjustments to make if they switched to man. I’m really proud of the preparation the girls put in.”
Even the shot clock became a weapon rather than a pressure point.
“We talked about being disciplined and sticking to our offensive gameplan,” O’Connor said of the halftime message. “As the second half went on, you could see some of the underclassmen understand how the shot clock can be used to our advantage. It showed.”
CNU outshot Berry 34-6 overall and held the Vikings to just two goals across four quarters. The defensive unit, anchored by returning standouts like Gabby Saia and Carys May, consistently disrupted Berry’s rhythm, turning stops into transition opportunities.
In goal, Hadley Chadwick and Rowan Arena combined to limit the Vikings’ attack, ensuring the offensive fireworks were matched by defensive discipline.
Depth on Display
Perhaps the most telling sign of this team’s potential was its depth.
Nine players who started at least half of last season’s games returned in 2026, including Preseason All-Americans Brookelyn Morrison, Faith O’Connor, and Gabby Saia. But Friday’s opener showcased something more than returning firepower. It highlighted balance.
“We have a lot more depth than we’ve had in recent years,” Valentine said. “Expect some new looks for the offense and a fast pace of play.”
Twenty-three goals came from a wide range of contributors. Charlotte Hemingway added a fourth-quarter score. Multiple freshmen saw meaningful minutes and made immediate impacts. Emilie Shoults helped control possession at the draw, ensuring CNU dictated tempo from start to finish.
For a program that climbed as high as No. 15 nationally last season and advanced to the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Championship, expectations were already elevated. Friday’s performance suggested those expectations may only continue to rise.
Setting the Tone for 2026
Next up is a rivalry showdown against Roanoke at Jennings Family Stadium.
“I feel like we play with a lot more passion when we play at Jennings,” Valentine said. “We’re excited.”
O’Connor echoed that confidence.
“We’re going to try to keep the momentum rolling,” she said with a smile. “Maybe score 25 goals next time.”
If the season opener is any indication, the Captains are not just aiming to win games. They are aiming to control them.
And as She’s Sailing to the Champion(ship) continues this spring, one thing is already clear: this team is not drifting into 2026. It is charging forward.
