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MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- The top-seeded Christopher Newport University Captains remained undefeated with a 4-2 victory over Averett tonight, in the 2011 USA South Tournament Semifinals. CNU improves to 16-0-1 overall while the Cougars end the season at 11-6-2.

Junior defender Sean Moriarty kicked off the scoring for Christopher Newport, getting CNU on the board in the 18th minute of play. Just across the midfield line, Moriarty sent a long shot far post from the right side. The line drive bounced once in the box before squirting past the Averett keeper for the 1-0 lead.

The Cougars ended the Captains shutout streak at six games with an equalizer in the 39th minute, though, on a pretty goal by Sam Muir. Muir hammered home a shot off the crossbar from Justin Pierce.

CNU controlled the action for much of the game, outshooting the Cougars 22-10 in the game, including a 13-5 edge in shots on-goal.

The Captains scored two quick ones in the second half to re-take the lead, 3-1. USA South Player of the Year Brian Lybert slipped by his defenders on the right side, just outside the box, and shot under the diving goalkeeper, Nate Barker.

Then, five minutes later, Lybert assisted on Michael Breske's third goal of the season, the eventual gamewinner. Lybert passed the ball over the shoulder of Steven Farmer, who flicked it into the air in front of Breske, who then volleyed it in with a hard shot for the score.

Averett again pulled within one when Kevin Vigebo scored off a John Thrower assist in the 63rd minute, but it would be as close as the Cougars would get. With the goal, Averett became just the second team this season to score more than one goal against CNU in a game.

The Captains added one more insurance goal in the 70th minute, when Karl Kummer blasted a hard shot off of a defender into the goal. Farmer assisted on the goal for his second assist of the night.

Lybert led the way for CNU with one goal and one assist, while putting four of his six shots on-goal. Five different players put shots on-frame for the Cougars, while Barker made nine saves in goal.

CNU advances to play in the USA South Championship game tomorrow evening at 5:00 pm. The Captains seek their third straight conference championship and will play the winners of the #2 N.C. Wesleyan/#3 Methodist matchup being played tonight.

(5) AU    1   1     2
(1) CNU   1   3     4

17:23   CNU   Moriarty, Sean (2) unassisted
38:20   AU    Muir, Sam (2) from Pierce
51:34   CNU   Lybert, Brian (11) unassisted
56:32   CNU   Breske, Michael (3) from Lybert & Farmer
62:25   AU    Vigebo, Kevin (4) from Thrower
69:28   CNU   Kummer, Karl (2) from Farmer

Shots: AU (10), CNU (22)
Corner Kicks: AU (3), CNU (9)
Saves: AU-Barker (9); CNU-Wolfe (3)