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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Despite becoming just the fifth team to score on the 11th-ranked Salisbury Sea Gulls (14-2-0, 6-0-0), the Captains were unable to overcome a two-goal first half deficit and dropped their fifth game of the season, 3-1. Christopher Newport (10-5-1, 4-2-0) got a second half tally from rookie Jimmy Grace, but saw their modest four-game win streak come to a close. 

The two teams appeared evenly matched for the majority of the contest, with CNU holding a 17-12 advantage in overall shots in the game. Both teams got seven shots on goal, but Salisbury took advantage of chances late in the first half to build a lead at the break. 

In the 39th minute, Matt Greene slipped a pass to the top of the box for Larry Cornish, who battled for the ball against a CNU defender, but got loose and slipped a shot passed CNU keeper Sean Killion. The Sea Gulls would tack on another key goal with less than a minute remaining in the half. Benjamin Aryeetey put away what proved to be the gamewinner on a header off a corner kick by Greene. 

The Captains went into halftime down 2-0, but were not without their chances in the opening stanza. On a corner kick of their own, Grace got a clear look at a header on goal, but Salisbury's keeper, Drew Staedeli made a sensational diving stop to keep CNU off the board. In all, Staedeli made four saves in the first half as Salisbury built their lead. 

Coming out of the intermission with a fury, the Captains cut the lead in half less than ten minutes in. On just the second shot of the stanza, Grace put away his fourth goal of the season on a shot smoked from the right side just outside of the box. It came after a pair of pretty passes starting on the left by senior Caleb Lewis. His touch was pushed ahead by Alec Faulkner, and Grace blasted the goal into the top of the net. 

A response came quickly from Salisbury, however, as Billy Fowler set up Elliott Compton for a one-on-one chance with Killion in the 62nd minute. The shot got under the dive by Killion, and into the left corner of the goal. With their second two-goal edge of the game, the Salisbury defense, which ranked 2nd in the nation coming into Wednesday's contest, would not allow another goal for CNU. 

The Captains will wrap up their home regular season schedule on Saturday, October 26, as they host Penn State Harrisburg in the second to last game of the year. CNU will host the Lions at 7:00 pm Saturday, with live stats available at CNUsports.com