LEXINGTON, Va. — The No. 23 Washington and Lee University field hockey team opened the 2026 season with a 2-0 setback to No. 4 Christopher Newport University on Tuesday evening at W&L Turf Field.
The Generals (0-1) kept the nationally ranked Captains (1-0) off the scoreboard for nearly the entire first half behind a strong performance from the defense and first-year goalkeeper Helenka Chodakiewicz, who made four saves in the opening quarter and five before halftime. Christopher Newport finished the contest with a 16-4 advantage in shots and a 9-2 edge in shots on goal.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Christopher Newport generated eight shots in the opening quarter, but Chodakiewicz turned away all four attempts that reached the cage to keep the contest scoreless through 15 minutes.
- W&L registered its first scoring opportunity in the 19th minute when Margaret Cover put a shot on cage, but CNU goalkeeper Ella Fallen made the save. Madeline Lancione added a blocked attempt later in the second period.
- The Captains broke through with just under two minutes remaining in the first half. Riley Iasiello scored off an assist from Ellie Kidd at the 28:07 mark to give CNU a 1-0 advantage entering halftime.
- Washington and Lee applied pressure immediately after the break. W&L generated the Generals' lone penalty corner at 31:54, followed by a blocked attempt from Charlotte Dreany and a shot on goal from Britty Page.
- CNU doubled its advantage at 34:24 when Kate Engle scored off an assist from Iasiello.
- The Generals held the Captains scoreless over the final 25:36, with Chodakiewicz making two additional saves in the fourth quarter to preserve the 2-0 margin.
TOP W&L PERFORMERS
CNU LEADERS
- Riley Iasiello factored into both Christopher Newport goals, scoring the game-winner at 28:07 before assisting on Kate Engle's third-quarter tally.
- Kate Engle scored the Captains' second goal and finished with a team-high three shots.
- Ella Fallen made two saves to record the shutout in goal.
- CNU finished with a 16-4 advantage in shots and a 4-1 edge in penalty corners.
BY THE NUMBERS
- 16-4 — Christopher Newport held the advantage in total shots, including an 8-0 margin during the opening quarter.
- 9-2 — The Captains' advantage in shots on goal. W&L goalkeeper Helenka Chodakiewicz stopped seven of the nine attempts she faced.
- 4-1 — CNU's edge in penalty corners. The Generals earned their lone corner early in the third quarter and generated two shots from the opportunity.
UP NEXT
Washington and Lee travels to No. 9 Dickinson College on Saturday, Sept. 5, for its first road contest of the season, a non-conference matchup at noon.
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
