Box Score in HTML Format
Box Score in PDF Format

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Back-to-back goals from senior midfielder Joy Piirto in less than two minutes during the second half would hold up in a 2-1 victory in Capital Athletic Conference play Tuesday night, as the Captains (7-2-2, 3-0-0) dropped Southern Virginia (5-6-2, 1-2-0). CNU used a dominant second half to get past the Knights, picking up their third straight victory in the process.

Playing against Southern Virginia for the first time in an official league game, the Captains struggled to get the offense going in the first half. Despite outshooting the Knights, 8-3, in the first half, it was the road team that had the better chances, holding a 3-1 edge in shots on-goal. CNU's rookie goalkeeper Carly Maglio was up to the task, stopping all three attempts to keep SVU off the board.

After halftime, the Captains came out with an intensified offense, pushing the ball forward from the opening whistle. After putting just one shot on-goal in the first 45 minutes, CNU ripped ten toward the net in the second half. 

The first to connect came in the 55th minute, when Piirto picked up her third goal of the season. Junior midfielder Lindsay Mondloch started the play with a gorgeous ball over the defense down the right side. CNU's leading scorer, sophomore Victoria Perry, reached the ball first and quickly centered a pass to Piirto. After a trap and a touch to the right, Piirto hammered a line shot into the right side from just outside the 18-yard box. 

One goal wouldn't be enough for Piirto, who quickly added her second, and the eventual game-winning goal just a minute and a half later. On the next run down the field for the Captains, sophomore midfielder Allie McWilliams connected on a hard shot that was just high, ricocheting off the crossbar right to the feet of her senior teammate, who connected on the putback for the score. 

The Captains offense settled in comfortably, and pestered Makenzie Cox, the Knights' keeper, with shots for the remainder of the half. In the 73rd minute, though, one of the meager three shots the CNU defense allowed in the second stanza would find the back of the net for Southern Virginia. After a foul just beyond the center circle, Valerie Cruz lined up a free kick looking to take a shot at the goal. From nearly 40 yards out, Cruz lined a shot into the top of the goal, just beyond the outstretched hands of Maglio for the lone SVU goal of the match. 

With five minutes remaining, CNU nearly capitalized for an insurance goal, when Perry ripped a hard shot from the right side. Cox made a stunning diving save that would re-direct the shot into the post, denying the Captains' leader a goal. 

The defense would hold for Christopher Newport, capturing a 2-1 victory for their third CAC win of the season. The Captains improved to 7-2-2 overall with a perfect 3-0 mark in league play. CNU will now head back on the road for two games this weekend, taking on Penn State Harrisburg and Elizabethtown on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.