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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Despite suffering a man down disadvantage 12 seconds into overtime, senior Denny Arinello answered the call with a goal 1:42 into the first extra period to come away with a 3-2 win for the Captains. CNU (7-1-2,  3-0-1) dropped Methodist University, ranked 7th in the region, with the clutch goal which was assisted by Caleb Lewis. The Monarchs fall to 7-2-1 overall, 1-1-1 in the USA South.

Lewis found himself free in the Methodist half and dribbled his way to the right corner of the box where he unleashed a hard shot at Pat Hamel, the Monarchs goalkeeper. Hamel made a sensational save on the open look, but the ball bounded to the left side of the box, where Arinello raced to get the first touch. Hamel had nearly enough time to recover, and dove after Arinello's try, but it glanced off his hand and into the left pocket of the goal. It was Arinello's first of the season and second career game-winning strike. 

The Captains, ranked 8th in the same region as Methodist, came away with the dramatic victory on the home field, extending the team's season-long unbeaten streak to eight games.

Methodist took a 1-0 lead early in the game as the Captains were caught high on a long over pass by Frank Barone out of the defense. Sophomore Eirik Nordseth raced on past the Captains back line and sent a long shot from right to left under CNU goalkeeper Sean Killion. The goal came just 4:34 into the match and put CNU in an early hole that would remain until after halftime.

Facing the 1-0 deficit at the break, the Captains offense increased the pressure early in the second half. It would take less than nine minutes into the stanza to find the game-tying goal, when senior Andrew Bonorden sent a arcing service on a set piece to the front of the goal mouth. Defender Tommy O'Neal got to the loose ball after a scrum and powered it into the back of the net. 

CNU then took a brief lead in the second half when sophomore leading scorer Jalon Brown scored his eighth goal of the season on a long break away. After a set play by Methodist was cleared by CNU, Brown raced from his own side of midfield all the way down to the top of the 18-yard box through a handful of Methodist defenders before slipping a low bouncing shot under the diving keeper. The lead would only hold for 28 seconds, however, as Mike Ilodigwe answered on an assist by Anders Peterson to tie the game back at two. 

The Captains attack continued to push, outshooting Methodist, 17-4, in regulation. Hamel was forced to make six saves while Killion stopped a pair. 

In extra time, Brendan Cook suffered his second caution from the referee, forcing a red and a man-up advantage for the Monarchs. The Captains were forced to play a man down for just over a minute, however, when Lewis set up Arinello's winner.

The Captains have now won five straight and are unbeaten in their last eight games (7-0-1). CNU will  next host Averett University on Saturday, October 6 at 2:00 pm as a part of Family Weekend. 

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