The University of Mary Washington field hockey team dropped a 4-2 decision to fifth-ranked Christopher Newport University on Homecoming Saturday at the Battleground. The Eagles slip to 10-8 on the season.

CNU came out strong, scoring on its first chance, with 2:41 elapsed in the contest. The Eagle defense tightened from there, and the first quarter ended with the Captains holding a 1-0 lead.

In the second, the Eagles gained a penalty stroke chance, as sophomore Monique Lipton ran down a long entry pass into the circle, and was upended. Emma Bernard converted the stroke, tying the score with 4:05 gone in the second quarter. The Captains regained the lead with a tally 5:35 later, and held a 2-1 advantage at halftime.

CNU added a score in the thid and another in the fourth, but UMW cut the margin to 4-2 with 7:17 remaining, as junior Ellie Helbling took a ball that was stopped by the CNU keeper, made a juke to the right, and found the empty cage. The score would hold in the remaining minutes.

CNU led in shots, 19-6, as well as penalty corners, 9-5. UMW goalkeeper Bailey McNabb made seven saves and senior Annie Grace Louthan added a defensive save.

The Eagles will visit Salisbury University in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal on Wednesday. Game time is tenatively set for 6 p.m.