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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In a game that proved to be a tale of two halves for both teams, the 17th-ranked Christopher Newport men's soccer team scored four first-half goals, led by a hat trick from senior Jalon Brown, and held off a furious comeback rally in the second half for a 4-3 win over N.C. Wesleyan College (2-1-0). The two offensive juggernauts have now combined to score 24 goals in the teams' first three games. 

Brown, a two-time reigning conference player of the year, scored the first three goals of the match and became the ninth player in program history to etch multiple hat tricks in his career. With the hat trick, Brown ran his scoring streak against the Battling Bishops up to six, as he matched his scoring output from a year ago when CNU shut out N.C. Wesleyan on the road, 3-0. In fact, in five career games against the Bishops, the senior forward has scored six goals and added two assists for 14 total points. 

After both teams traded promising runs early in the game, it looked like the Battling Bishops would cash in on the first goal of the match. A two-on-one opportunity turned into a good chance with a header on frame, but junior goalkeeper Sam Lesko turned away the shot with a dive to his left.

Minutes later, it was the Captains who delivered the first goal of the match. Senior defender Alec Faulkner dribbled to the right sideline on the CNU half before sending a perfect long-ball to the top of the box for Brown. The senior had an open look, but with the tough angle chose to turn inside and take on a pair of defenders. A nifty move and a studder step found him open for the left-footed bullet into the left side of the goal. 

Just under seven minutes later, the Bishops were called for a hand ball in the box, awarding the Captains a penalty kick that Brown stepped up and drove home for his second goal. Then, after another seven minutes of game time, Brown completed his trifecta with a chip from inside the box over the outstretched hands of NC Wesleyan keeper Jesper Olsson. His goal was assisted by sophomore Patrick Burns, who picked up a point for the second straight game. 

CNU wrapped up a stellar first-half performance in the 38th minute when rookie Andrew Gogolin scored his first career goal. The midfielder made a great run down the left side, where junior Garrett Van Nutt played him past his defender. After one dribble inside, Gogolin lofted a perfectly placed shot beyond the keeper to give CNU a 4-0 edge in the first stanza. The goal would hold up to be the eventual gamewinner, for the rookie's first ever winning strike.

The lead would barely hold, however, after intermission. The former conference rivals proved nearly up to the task in the second half as the Bishops clawed back within one in the 81st minute. The first NC Wesleyan goal came quickly into the half, as Matt Moore flicked a low-line drive pass from Thorfinnur Thorfinnsson into the left side of the net. In the 70th minute, the lead was cut to two, 4-2, when Thorfinnsson set up another goal, this time by Julius Oskarsson. Finally, Daniel Kamdem played a pass across the goal mouth to the foot of Charles Chapin in the 81st minute to pull within one, 4-3.

The CNU defense would bend, but not break, however, as the match would end in the 4-3 win for the Captains. Christopher Newport took 13 shots, putting seven on frame, while the Bishops managed 11 shots, with five on-goal. 

Brown's performance helped vault the senior into the top five all-time for career goals (36) and points (96). His penalty kick was the fifth converted in his career, moving him into sole possession of second all-time at CNU.

On Sunday, September 7, the nationally-ranked Captains will be back in action with their first road game of 2014 as they travel across the water to Virginia Wesleyan College. The Marlins will carry a 1-1-1 record into Sunday's tilt, which is set to kick off at 7:00 pm. Live stats will be available at CNUsports.com.