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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Junior goalkeeper Nolan Mann made his first start of the season, leading the 17th-ranked Captains to their fourth straight win to start the year with a 2-0 shutout at Virginia Wesleyan College (1-2-1). Christopher Newport scored a pair of goals in the final 20 minutes in front of a crowd of over 1,100 people to come away with the victory.

The two teams battled to a scoreless tie in the first half, with both groups managing four shots in the stanza. The Captains first attempt was on target, as sophomore Preston Key forced Marlins keeper Connor Kirkham to make a save just 36 seconds into the match. Leading scorer Jalon Brown also had one shot on-frame in the opening frame, but Kirkham turned it away in the 15th minute.

Mann, untested in the first half, came away with his first save quickly into the second. Just 25 seconds after intermission, Isaac Arrington played a shot toward the CNU goal, but Mann made the stop for the Captains. 

The teams traded chances for the next 20 minutes before CNU finally converted the first goal of the match. Sophomore Patrick Burns notched his third goal of the young season when he headed home a service from Sebastian Abrigo on a corner kick. Burns crashed in on the left side and played in the score for the eventual gamewinner with 18:53 left on the clock. 

Less than ten minutes later, Burns set up the second goal of the match with a hard shot off the post, saved by Kirkham. CNU junior midfielder Garrett Van Nutt was there to collect the rebound and slammed the second-chance opportunity into the back of the net. 

With a two goal lead and just eleven minutes left on the clock, the CNU defense held on for the win, handing Mann his first win of the season. The junior netminder locked up his second career clean sheet by making four saves in the contest. Kirkham made five saves for the Marlins, allowing both goals. 

Christopher Newport, 4-0 for the first time since 2011, will return to action on Wednesday, September 10 at 6:00 pm as they host Randolph College. The game is part of a doubleheader with the women's team and live stats & video will be available at CNUsports.com/live.