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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport University men's soccer team showcased its depth on Friday night, as eight different players factored into four goals for the Captains. CNU picked up the first win of the season in a 4-2 victory over Randolph-Macon College (0-1-0), running off three straight goals in the second half to take control of the match.

In what proved to be a most eventful season opener, the Captains checked themselves into the NCAA record book with their first two goals of the season. After the Yellow Jackets took a 1-0 lead at halftime, CNU wasted little time getting the equalizer in the second half, just six minutes into the frame. They wasted even less, however, taking the lead, as the Captains scored eight seconds after their first strike for the fourth fastest consecutive goals in NCAA Division III history. 

First, senior Alex Makumbi kicked things off with a goal in the 52nd minute of play. A long pass came into the box off a set piece from Alec Faulkner, where junior Sean Christein settled the ball and passed to the middle for sophomore Jimmy Grace. Grace one-touched the ball to the right side, where Makumbi crashed in for the goal into the right side of the net. Then, on the ensuing kick-off, rookie Henry Gotay stole the ball from Randolph-Macon, cruised up field and slipped a pass between a pair of defenders for newcomer Harry Nodwell, who blistered a shot into the right side after just eight ticks came off the clock. 

With the lead, the Captains offense settled into form and started to pepper R-MC keeper C.J. Montalbano with shots on-goal. The Yellow Jackets netminder made seven saves in the game, but CNU would cash in on him again in the 70th minute. On what would prove to be the eventual gamewinner, rookie Andrew Gogolin sent a perfect cross into the box for junior Garrett Van Nutt, who flicked it past the diving keeper for the goal. It was his second career goal and first game-winning strike. 

Macon responded with a goal in the 73rd minute when defender Ryan White managed to get a good foot on a loose ball just outside the box on the right side. His shot slipped into the right side of the goal to cut the lead back to one, 3-2, but again the Captains would answer. This time, it was the team's senior offensive leader, Jalon Brown, who stymied the Yellow Jackets' hopes at a comeback. After getting a pass from sophomore Patrick Burns in the box, Brown averted his defender twice to the left to find space, and then drove a liner past the keeper for his first goal of 2014. After back-to-back 30+ point seasons, the first goal of his senior year makes 33 for his career.

The Captains will return to action on Saturday, August 30 as they play host to Whitman College in the final game of the 2014 Joe Pombriant/CNU Soccer Classic. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm with live stats and a live video webcast available at CNUsports.com/live.