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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Sophomore goalkeeper Savanah Cummings (Chester, Va.) made eight saves in goal, picking her up her first career shutout as she led the Christopher Newport field hockey team to a 2-0 shutout over Bridgewater College (6-7) on Wednesday night. The Captains improve to 7-4 this season with their fifth clean sheet of the year, as rookie Alexa Weaver scored her first career game-winning goal late in the first half. 

The Captains controlled the action early in the match, picking up four penalty corners in the first 12 minutes of action. Just over a minute into the match, Belle Tunstall got a hard shot on frame, but Bridgewater goalkeeper Amanda Harper made the early stop. Then, on an ensuing penalty corner, sophomore midfielder Sarah Miller blistered a hard shot off the post, just missing the game's opening goal. 

Bridgewater pushed back in the middle portion of the opening half, forcing the action against Cummings with three straight saves in under a minute and a half of game action. Pressed from inside the circle in the 21st minute, the sophomore keeper made an impressive sprawling save with her stick fully extended to block a shot by Taylor Prillaman. 

With less than five minutes remaining in the opening half, CNU would cash in on the game's first goal. Tunstall took a penalty corner for the Captains that Bridgewater failed to clear. After a few bounces, the ball found the feet of Weaver, who weaved through a pair of Eagle defenders before popping a shot into the back of goal past Harper in the center of the goal. 

The two teams were evenly matched in the first 35 minutes, with the Captains holding a slight 8-7 advantage in total shots. Both teams earned five penalty corners and the Captains put four shots on frame versus five for the Eagles. 

The Captains held a more significant edge in the second half, as the offense continued to wear down the Bridgewater defense. After a handful of chances, CNU would capitalize on a penalty corner in the 60th minute. Samantha Snider played the ball in from the left side and after a couple of passes on the right side, it was Allie Hackbarth that poked the ball toward the center of the goal. Her touch was re-directed into the back of the cage by junior Taylor Williams, scoring her fifth goal of the season. It was Hackbarth's second helper of the year, setting up the insurance goal with less than ten minutes left in the match.

After the second goal, Cummings was forced to make just two more saves, stopping a pair of shots from Caroline Augsburger in the 68th minute. The eight saves were the second most of the season for the sophomore keeper, as she secured her first solo shutout. Cummings has played in six combined shutouts during her career prior to Wednesday night's solo effort. 

CNU held a 17-11 advantage in shots for the game, including a 9-4 edge in second-half opportunities. Harper made six saves in the cage for Bridgewater, while Augsburger led the Eagles offense with four shots on-goal. Tunstall took six shots, including a team-high three on-frame to lead the CNU offensive attack. 

The Captains improved to 12-1 all-time versus Bridgewater with the 2-0 victory. CNU will return to action on Saturday, October 11 as they play host to Wesley College in league action at 12:00 pm. Live stats will be available at CNUsports.com.