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FROSTBURG, Md. -- Despite outshooting the home team 25-6, including a 12-1 advantage in shots on-goal, the ninth-ranked Christopher Newport men's soccer team would be forced to settle for a scoreless draw versus Frostburg State (7-3-3, 2-1-1) on Saturday afternoon. The Captains (11-1-3, 2-0-2) added to their now ten-game unbeaten streak, but Bobcats goalkeeper Hassan Mostafa kept CNU off the board for the first time this season.

In a conference game billed as one of the most dangerous offenses in the nation pitted against a suffocating defense, Mostafa came away with an impressive performance. The sophomore keeper made 12 saves while facing 25 CNU shots, including a penalty kick stop in the first half to keep the Captains scoreless. 

The CNU offense was again in top form, controlling nearly all of the action in Saturday's contest. Early in the first half, senior defender Alec Faulkner led the attack of set pieces, driving three shots on-frame against Mostafa in the first 19 minutes of action. Tommy O'Neal and Ryan Balfour each added attempts on goal as CNU placed six of their first seven tries on-goal against Mostafa.

 After a few more minutes of action, a foul in the box led to a penalty kick for the Captains, who turned to their senior leader Jalon Brown for the attempt. Brown had converted on six of his eight career PK attempts and ranks second all-time in career penalty attempts, but again Mostafa dove to his right and turned away the CNU attack. 

While the CNU defense continued to pepper the Frostburg State defense with attempts, the Captains defense also posted a strong game. The CNU offense took 13 first-half shots, putting nine on-goal, while the CNU defense allowed just a pair of shots, both of which were blocked by a defender. 

Playing through a cold rain, the Captains offense coolled slightly after halftime, managing just one shot on-frame in the second half, with seven total attempts. Junior goalkeeper Sam Lesko was tested for CNU in the final minutes of regulation. He was in position to make an easy stop to his left, but the ball was deflected and ricocheted back toward the center of the goal, forcing Lesko to change direction quickly and dive back to keep the ball out of the net. 

In the overtime periods, CNU held a 5-1 advantage in total shots, while both teams put one attempt on-goal. With just under two minutes remaining, junior forward Ryan Balfour found some space and blistered a left-footed shot on-goal, but Mostafa made his 12th and final save of the match, covering up the attempt to secure the clean sheet. 

Lesko needed to make just one save in his second career shutout, as the defense held Frostburg State to just six total shots in the double-overtime game. Offensively, Faulkner's six attempts, with four on-frame, led the way for CNU while Balfour and sophomore Patrick Burns each chipped in a pair of attempts on-goal.

The Captains return home for a pair of games this week, hosting St. Mary's College (Md.) on Wednesday, October 15 at 5:30 pm, followed by a home matchup against Mary Washington next Saturday, October 18 at 7:00 pm.