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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport women's soccer team clinched a first round bye in the CAC Tournament with a 3-2 win over Penn State Harrisburg (5-9-1, 3-5-0) on Saturday, locking up their eighth straight victory. The winning streak matches the longest roll in the three-year tenure of head coach Dan Weiler, as Lindsay Mondloch and Shaydah Naraghi made sure their Senior Day was not spoiled by the Lions. 

Prior to the game, the six CNU seniors were honored in a special ceremony as they hosted their final home regular season game. With a win, though, the Captains would ensure it would not be the last time they laced up their cleats at Captains Field, as CNU will host a CAC Semifinal match on Wednesday, November 4. 

The Captains dominated the first half opportunities, outshooting Penn State Harrisburg, 17-1, but the score was tied 1-1 at the break as the Lions took advantage of their lone chance. That chance put the road team ahead, 1-0, in the eighth minute of action.  After intercepting a pass from the Captains defense, Kylie Courtney slipped a past through to leading scorer Kristen Stark. The freshman was all alone and scored to the right side of the keeper from about 10 yards out. 

The CNU offense worked several combinations in the first half but Lions goalkeeper Samantha Kutcher kept the Captains off the board until the 34th minute. Naraghi was in the right spot as she was able to flick a bouncing ball onsides for rookie MiAsia Pinckney. The freshman, playing in her first game since October 6, made sure the pass would count as she connected on a shot into the right side of the goal. It was the rookie's second career tally and Naraghi's second assist of the year. 

In the second half, Christopher Newport continued to control the action going forward and got the go-ahead score less than 15 minutes into the stanza. Pinckney was again involved, as she dribbled toward the goal line down the left side and sent a cross back post for Victoria Perry. Perry trapped the ball and saw the open player in front of the goal mouth as she slipped a pass right to the feet of Lindsay Mondloch for the one-touch goal from five yards out. 

In the 75th minute, the Captains would connect on what would prove to be a crucial insurance tally from senior to senior. Mondloch and Naraghi hooked up for the third goal of the contest to give the Captains a 3-1 lead. Mondloch's assist was her seventh of the season, a new season best, and moved her up to sixth all-time at CNU. 

The goal was crucial because Penn State Harrisburg would get another score from Stark just five minutes later. Eliza Grim lofted a long pass into the box for the freshman scorer and Stark shot high over the hands of CNU goalkeeper Carly Maglio to pull back within one, 3-2. 

The Lions, battling for their postseason lives, continued to push everything forward, but were unable to connect again. CNU outshot Penn State Harrisburg, 26-4, including a 14-4 advantage in shots on-goal. The Captains also managed seven corner kicks while holding the Lions without an attempt from the corner. 

CNU will close out non-conference play on Sunday, as they travel to play Roanoke College (8-6-1) for a 5:00 pm kickoff. The Captains will then finish out CAC action on the road at Marymount, as CNU plays for their third straight regular season conference title.