Box Score

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Despite falling behind early in the first half, the Christopher Newport women's soccer team responded in perfect fashion as CNU used three unanswered goals to earn a 3-1 victory over Salisbury and advance to the Capital Athletic Conference championship game with a stellar effort on Wednesday evening at Captains Field.

With the victory, CNU improves to 14-3-1 and will battle second-seeded York in the CAC championship game on Saturday. The game time has yet to be determined but will be announced tomorrow on CNUsports.com.

On Wednesday, Joy Piirto drove home the equalizer in the 18th minute of the first half before Sam Rabinek broke the deadlock and Bupe Okeowo added some breathing room late in the contest. Overall, CNU held a 15-7 edge in shots and a 6-3 lead in corner kicks during the bout.

Although Christopher Newport uncorked the first three shots of the game, Salisbury held up as Michelle Conrad made three saves to keep the contest scoreless. Later, the Sea Gulls mounted their best scoring opportunity as Samantha Beck chipped the ball into the CNU zone from midfield. After a quick touch, Marissa Walker pumped a shot into the right corner of the goal to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at 12:17.

Unfazed by the early deficit, the Captains retaliated. Just over five minutes later, Piirto loaded up and fired a dart from 20 yards out that found nothing but open spaces to knot the game at one.

Later, after Haley Casanova stoned Salisbury's next attempt, CNU broke the deadlock after converting a perfect corner kick. In the 29th-minute, Lindsay Mondloch sent a beautiful centering feed that Rabinek deflected in the box and eventually drove home for her third goal of the season.

After Casanova and Conrad traded saves in the waning moments of the first half, Christopher Newport stormed out of the gate in the second period. The hosts peppered the visitors with a pair of quick shots that just missed their mark. Following Salisbury's first run of the half that was stoned by Casanova, Okeowo gave the squad some wiggle room.

In the 66th-minute, the senior continued her late-season scoring binge. After breaking free, she ripped an initial shot that was pushed away by Salisbury. Refusing to back down, she quickly corralled the rebound and blistered another bullet into the back of the goal to give CNU a 3-1 edge.

With a two-goal lead, the Captains cruised to the victory. Casanova had to make two late saves during a minor flurry by the Sea Gulls, but the defense remained sturdy and closed out the semifinal victory.

Casanova eventually finished the game with five saves for CNU, while Conrad had four for Salisbury. Alesha Seifert also collected a pair for the Sea Gulls after taking over between the pipes in the second half.

---CNU---