Final IWLCA Poll

NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. -- For just the second time in program history, the Christopher Newport women's lacrosse team finished a season ranked in the top-25 of the IWLCA National Coaches Poll as the Captains were slotted 22nd in the final rankings, which were announced by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association on Monday afternoon.
 
Earning 110 total points in the poll, the 2021 Captains joined the 2013 squad as the only teams in program history to finish a season ranked in the top-25. The 2013 team wrapped up the year slotted 16th in the final IWLCA poll.
 
Capping off a historic campaign, Christopher Newport compiled an 11-7 record during the season. Along the way, the team defeated four nationally-ranked opponents. Putting that into perspective, the Captains had only two wins over top-25 teams during the first 20 years of the women's lacrosse program. Meanwhile, the 2021 squad registered two during a seven-day stretch in March.
 
Making history during the year, senior Sam Wettengel set a new single-season school record with 106 draw controls, while her 13 against Salisbury on April 14 tied the single-game mark. Additionally, sophomore Kelsey Winters averaged 3.36 assists per game, which marked the highest rate in program lore. She also became the first Captain to earn the IWLCA National Offensive Player of the Week Award after securing the prestigious honor on March 16.
 
During the year, Winters also became the fastest Captain to top 100 career points after joining the exclusive club in only her 19th career game. Meanwhile, Zoe Dyer also eclipsed 100 career points against Lynchburg on March 24, while Cat Leighty became just the ninth player to reach 200 career points after accomplishing the feat in the season finale at Salisbury on May 1.
 
Fittingly, Winters and Wettengel collected first-team All-Region honors for their work, while Leighty joined Kendall Krause on the second-team squad. Winters also became just the third All-American in program history after garnering third-team nods from USA Lacrosse Magazine.
 
In addition to the All-Region honorees, four other players earned All-Conference accolades. Becca Creekmore, Emma Jackson, Gracie Sanders, and Joely Stevens were also celebrated for their efforts during the season.
 
Incredibly, the Captains accomplished all of that while facing one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Christopher Newport's opponents finished the year with a .648 winning percentage. Overall, their foes combined to win 153 total games in 2021. Among the hundreds of lacrosse programs in the country, only Salisbury and Messiah faced teams with more victories than the Captains did during the season.
 
Of Christopher Newport's 18 games, 10 featured match-ups with nationally-ranked squads, including three bouts against No. 1 Salisbury, who went on to win the NCAA Championship. Holding their own against the very best programs in the country, the Captains were either tied or leading in the second half against seven of their top-25 opponents, including two games against the eventual national champions.
 
Along the way, the Captains spent eight consecutive weeks in the IWLCA National Rankings while climbing as high as 20th in the poll. The 2021 squad also advanced to the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Championship for the first time in school history.
 
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