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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In the final home regular season game of the year, Christopher Newport picked up a dramatic overtime win against Meredith College, 2-1. The Captains (7-8, 5-3) got the gamewinner with just 31 seconds remaining in the first overtime period, when junior Emma O'Reilly put away her fourth game-winning strike of the year. 

The Captains offense pressured Meredith's defense all game, but could not break the tie before the end of regulation, setting up the extra period. With things all locked up at one, a second overtime period appeared imminent, but a final run by CNU set up by freshman midfielder Chelsea Wolfe proved key. Junior Carly Utterback restarted with a quick throw in down to the goal line, where Wolfe made a nice play to keep the ball alive, slipped inside the box and then pushed a perfect pass across the to O'Reilly. The junior forward flicked a one-timer through a crowded goalkeeper box, into the left corner of the goal to give CNU the win. 

Coming into the game, Meredith was in second place in the league standings with just one setback against conference opponents. With the loss, Meredith falls to 10-5 overall, 6-2 against the USA South. The gamewinner was O'Reilly's 32nd career goal, moving her into a tie with CNU Athletics Hall of Fame alumna Ashleigh Dota for third place all-time. 

Christopher Newport held a short 1-0 advantage in the first half when senior leading scorer Dani Gunderson gave the Captains the lead. Wolfe also had the assist on the first goal of the contest, setting up Gunderson with a long through ball into the right side of the box, where the Captains midfielder blazed a scoring strike into the left side. 

The Avenging Angels answered with a goal of their own just six minutes later, when Jessie Davis stole the ball from a CNU defender and shot past goalkeeper Meghan Gumbs. It was one of just 9 shots taken by the Angels, as the CNU defense remained stout and limited chances by the Meredith attack. Both teams managed possession for large spurts in the game, but CNU converted more runs into chances, outshooting the visiting team 22-9. 

It is the first overtime win since a Sept. 10, 2011 matchup against Western Connecticut State. CNU improves to 2-2-6 all-time in overtime under head coach Ruth Keegan.

CNU will play the final three games on the road, heading to Georgia next weekend to face LaGrange College and Piedmont College on Saturday, October 20 and Sunday, October 21, respectively. The final three games will be pivotal in the 2012 USA South Tournament seeding, in which the top four teams will earn home field advantage in the Quarterfinals. 

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