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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In a tremendous team effort, the Christopher Newport University women's soccer team shook off a five-game losing streak and bruised the Ferrum Panthers, 9-1, in USA South Athletic Conference action on Sunday. The Captains set a team record with 11 assists in the game, as seven different players chipped in helpers to lead CNU to its first league win of the year. 

With the win, the Captains improve to 3-7 overall, 1-2 in the USA South, dropping Ferrum to 3-5 overall, 2-1 in the league. 

The 11 assists in Sunday's game eclipsed the previous high mark of nine set versus Peace in 2004. 

Christopher Newport dominated from the opening whistle, outshooting the Panthers 28-5 in the contest, including an impressive 18-2 advantage in shots on-goal. The Captains scored seven goals in the first half to race out to a huge edge, and added two more in the first ten minutes of the second stanza. Ferrum tacked on its lone score in the 65th minute off the foot of leading scorer Kara Pegram.

Junior forward Emma O'Reilly scored the first goal of the match in the 18th minute just after checking in. Senior Dani Gunderson touched a pass into the right corner for junior Carly Utterback, who crossed the ball intot he middle for O'Reilly. With an open look, O'Reilly slammed a liner into the left side for the score.

Gunderson scored one of her own just four minutes later, the eventual gamewinner, off an assist from Kelsey Thomas. Gunderson lofted a shot over the keeper into the right side of the goal after receiving a pass behind the defense on the left. 

Utterback added a goal and two more assists on the next three goals as she had an impressive day for CNU. She slipped a shot under the keeper for goal number four, and then set up Gunderson and rookie Shaydah Naraghi on the next two, finishing with five points on the day. 

Sophomore Sarah Perrett rounded out the scoring in the first half, putting CNU up, 7-0, with only 15 seconds left in the half. Naraghi slipped a pass down the middle leaving Perrett one-on-one with the goalkeeper, where she blasted a hard shot into the left side beyond the diving attempt. 

Caitlyn Deaton made eight saves in goal for the Panthers, playing in just the first half and taking on the 15 shots on-goal by CNU. The Captains also split time between two keepers, as senior Meghan Gumbs was unchallenged in the first half, while sophomore Emily Brown made one save in the second. 

Utterback's five points led the way, while Gunderson added five of her own on two goals and an assist. Three more players had four-point contests, as O'Reilly scored twice, while Naraghi and Perrett each had a goal and two assists. O'Reilly has now scored 28 career goals, moving into sixth all-time for the Captains. 

CNU will now head back on the road to take on Methodist University and N.C. Wesleyan College in conference action next weekend. The Captains will play at 2:00 pm next Saturday and Sunday.