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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In a crucial regional men's soccer matchup, between Christopher Newport (16-1-1) and #18 Salisbury University (12-3-3), it was a late header goal from sophomore Kyle Rose that lifted the second-ranked Captains past the Sea Gulls, 3-2. CNU staved off a pair of Salisbury equalizers and escaped with a huge win on their home field.

In a release of the regional rankings late on Wednesday by the NCAA, Salisbury was ranked just ahead of the Captains making the mid-week tilt incredibly important for both squads. The Captains improved to 16-1-1 on the season while Salisbury slipped to 12-3-3 overall.

Christopher Newport opened up the scoring in the 26th minute of play, as junior Winston Mattheisen beat his defender on the goal line and slipped a pass in front of the Salisbury keeper where Danny Franklin pushed in his sixth goal of the season. It was the only score of the first half, as Salisbury held the early edge in shots, 5-3, including three on-frame.

Just 4:09 into the second frame, Salisbury would tie it up on a nice header from Dave Corrigan off an assist from Morgan Hunt. CNU answered just under eight minutes later on a set piece from just outside the box. Mattheisen stepped up and bent a hard shot around the wall and inside the near post to put the Captains back up, 2-1.

The teams traded solid opportunities for the remainder, but Salisbury cashed in on its second game-tying goal of the game in the 83rd minute. The CNU defense attempted to clear the ball in the box, but Jake Perry won a tough battle with his defender and slipped a shot past Justin Wolfe, the Captains junior goalkeeper, to tie the game.

The momentum favored Salisbury, as the Captains were issued a pair of yellows in the next two minutes, and the Sea Gulls had a solid shot just wide of the frame. But then, with just over three minutes remaining, the Salisbury defense had it deflected a pass over the goal line awarding the Captains a corner kick. Stepping in to take it was Brian Lybert, one of the nation's leaders in assists. His ball was right at Rose, who elevated over his defender and put a header on frame over the leaping keeper.

The gamewinner was the first of his career off Lybert's 13th assist this season. The 13 helpers ranks third all-time for a single season at CNU, and gives him 30 for his career. Mattheisen led the way with a goal and an assist, giving him 21 points this season.

CNU will conclude the regular season this Saturday at 7 pm, as they host Greensboro College in the conference finale as a part of Homecoming Weekend. It will be Senior Night for the Captains.

SAL     0   2       2
CNU   1   2       3

25:14   CNU   Franklin, Danny (6) from Mattheisen
49:09   SAL    Corrigan, Dave (3) from Hunt
57:02   CNU   Mattheisen, Winston (7) unassisted
82:02   SAL    Perry, Jake (3) unassisted
86:49   CNU   Rose, Kyle (4) from Lybert

Shots: SAL (15), CNU (15)
Corner Kicks: SAL (3), CNU (3)
Saves: SAL-Vnenchak (6); CNU-Wolfe (7)

Cautions & Ejections:
YC-SAL TEAM (39:23); YC-CNU #20 (42:26); YC-SAL #10 (47:52); YC-SAL #3 (51:59); YC-CNU #1 (83:16); YC-CNU #13 (83:16)