The Nansemond-Suffolk Academy field hockey team traveled to Christchurch School on Tuesday and kept ahead of the Lady Seahorses, leaving with a 5-2 victory.

Christchuch had an offensive penalty corner advantage, earning seven to Nansemond-Suffolk’s six, but it could not undo the advantage the Lady Saints created with their play.

“Everyone played as a team,” NSA coach Ashley Skinner said of her players. “We used the entire field,” stretching Christchurch out.

As for how the teamwork further manifested itself, “the girls are really starting to create passing lanes for each other,” Skinner said. “Overall, I’m thrilled with our performance today.”

NSA’s lone junior, Paige Christiansen, continues to be a major force, contributing two goals to Tuesday’s contest.

They were the initial goals of the game, the first coming five and a half minutes in, unassisted. The second, assisted by freshman Lauren Meyers, came with 50 seconds to go before halftime.

Lady Saints freshman Sam Williams scored eight and a half minutes into the second half, assisted by sophomore Morgan Morrell, and then Morrell made it 4-0 just under five minutes later off an assist by sophomore Rebecca Miller.

But then the Lady Seahorses roared to life, answering with two consecutive goals, one with 9:56 remaining and the next with 8:15 to go.

Meyers helped halt Christchurch’s momentum by putting a shot in the goal about three minutes later with an assist from Morrell.

Nansemond-Suffolk’s freshmen and sophomores continue to be essential to the team’s considerable success this season.

“They just have no other choice but to step up,” Skinner said. “Having only one senior and one junior, we really rely on our underclassmen to be an asset to every play of the game.”

On Tuesday, Morrell ended up with one goal and two assists, Meyers had one goal and one assist, Williams scored a goal and Miller supplied an assist.

Freshman Sarah Christiansen had seven saves in goal, and sophomore Summer Wood was key for her team at left back.

“Summer Wood had a phenomenal defensive game,” Skinner said, noting Wood does not have the statistics — like goals and assists — that get written down in a book, but she was a significant difference-maker.

“As a defender, she would step to the ball, keep them out wide,” the coach said. “She really created so many turnovers for us today.”

Another key contributor to NSA’s efforts was freshman inner midfielder Abby Carlson.

“In the last two games, I’ve really seen her step it up,” Skinner said.

And Carlson is aided by the presence of center midfielder Paige Christiansen.

“Paige is always such a great leader for us,” Skinner said, adding that Christiansen fosters confidence in those around her.

In their first conference game of the season, the Lady Saints (6-2-1) host Hampton Roads Academy on Thursday.