GENEVA, N.Y. -- The Christopher Newport field hockey team was well represented on the All-Region squad as Abby Asuncion, Brooke Billhimer, and Marcella Sabbagh garnered first-team accolades, while Alexis Morales secured second-team nods from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association on Tuesday afternoon.

With her award, Asuncion joined Christopher Newport Hall of Famer Caitlin Cahill as the only three-time first-team All-Region selections in program history. Meanwhile, Sabbagh was celebrated for the second straight year after picking up second-team plaudits as a junior in 2021.

Along with the returning award-winners, Billhimer and Morales were honored for the first time in their careers. Overall, the three first-team selections equaled the most in school history, tying the legendary haul by the 2007 squad. Additionally, the four total honorees matched the third-most by the Captains, trailing only the 2017 and 2018 teams.

Orchestrating a historic campaign on the offensive side of the ball, Asuncion was nearly unstoppable throughout her senior season. During the year, she posted 12 assists, which marked the highest total in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference and equaled the second-most by a Captain in program history. Additionally, she also stood third in the league with 11 goals and 34 points.

Lighting up the opposition throughout the season, Asuncion recorded at least one point in 13 of her appearances, including three goals and three assists against Mary Washington on November 2. Her nine points in that contest matched the third-highest single-game total in school history. Equally adept on the defensive end, the Sterling, Virginia native also served as a flyer on the squad's stingy penalty corner unit.

Starring on the defensive side of the ball, Billhimer was a centerpiece on Christopher Newport's back line. Honored as the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, the sophomore sensation led the Captains with 1,243 minutes of work during the season. She did not miss a second of action in 18 games and played 960 consecutive minutes to wrap up the year, marking the eighth-longest streak in program history.

Making the most of her time on the field, Billhimer stood third in the league with five defensive saves, including an acrobatic diving stop to thwart a breakaway against No. 3 Rowan in the NCAA Sweet 16 on November 12. Overall, she registered three stops against nationally-ranked competition while also slotting second on the team with nine blocked shots. Meanwhile, the Gloucester, Virginia native also contributed four points during the year, including a pair of assists.

Piecing together another record-breaking season, Sabbagh was a force to be reckoned with on both ends of the field. A 60-minute machine, she ranked second on the team with 1,233 minutes of action during the year. Stepping up when it mattered most, she did not miss a second during the final 16 games of the season, matching Billhimer's historic streak of 960 consecutive minutes of work.

On the back end, Sabbagh blocked a team-high 12 shots during the year, including seven deflections on corner attempts. The senior star also added a pair of defensive saves. Meanwhile, on the other side, she ranked third on the squad with 18 points. The Lewes, Delaware native established a new school record and led the NCAA with seven penalty stroke goals during the season. In fact, only four teams in the entire country converted as many penalty strokes as Sabbagh did during the 2022 campaign.

Making an immediate impact during her first year on the field with the Captains, Morales flashed a well-balanced skill-set throughout her senior season. After arriving in Newport News following three years at Syracuse, she made a seamless transition to her new home. The Yorktown, Virginia native started all 21 games and played at least 50 minutes in 15 of her appearances, including both outings during the NCAA Tournament.

Contributing on both sides of the field, Morales chipped in with nine points, including three in a win over Centre on October 8. She also landed a key second-half tally in a 2-1 triumph at No. 17 Lynchburg and found the back of the cage against Concordia (Wisc.) and Susquehanna as well. Additionally, she served as a flyer on penalty corners, blocked three shots during the postseason, and was celebrated as the league's Defensive Player of the Week on October 3.

Aided by the work of the four All-Region performers, Christopher Newport advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 while finishing the season with a 15-6 record. Staples in the NFHCA National Coaches Poll, the Captains eventually wrapped up the year ranked 16th in the country.

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