Box Score in HTML Format
YORK, Pa. -- Playing on a chilly, windswept day that felt more like January 3 than October 3, the No. 3 Christopher Newport men's soccer team scored a quick second half goal to escape unbeaten with a 1-1 draw at York (Pa.). The Captains saw their season record run to 8-0-3, 1-0-1 in the CAC, while the Spartans improved to 3-6-2, 0-1-1.
Sophomore
Andrew Gogolin had the key tally for the Captains, coming through with the equalizer less than a minute into the second stanza. Junior
Preston Key blitzed toward the end line with the ball and turned back to find Gogolin open in the middle of the box for the score. It was the sophomore midfielder's second goal of the season and Key's' first helper.
In the 26th minute, York took a 1-0 lead when Nigel Robinson scored off a corner kick for the first goal of the game. The CNU defense got to the ball first, but could not clear the attempt before Robinson finished the play.
With the score locked at 1-1, the two teams battled heavy wind and temperatures in the high 40's in an attempt to gain the advantage. Quality chances were limited after the game-tying goal as both defenses locked down. CNU had a pair of crosses picked out of the air by the Spartans goalkeeper, Charlie Johnson, in the final three minutes of regulation.
The best chance to win the game came in the second overtime period when rookie
Bobby Seifert headed a shot off the left post as CNU played a man up for the final seven minutes of action. The shot glanced off the post out of bounds, though, and the Spartans escaped the chance. Finally, with just 40 seconds remaining,
Harry Nodwell sent another beautiful cross into the box, but Johnson leaped and cleared away the offensive opportunity for the Captains, holding on for the draw.
It was the fifth time this season the nationally-ranked Captains' offense erased a deficit and escaped with no worse than a tie. The overtime game was also the sixth in 11 games this season as CNU continues to play well in extra time. The six overtime games is tied for the most since the 1989 season when CNU played eight overtime games.
Christopher Newport will look to continue its unbeaten streak to start the season on Tuesday, October 6 as they travel to Southern Virginia University. The game will kick off at 7:30 pm, following the conclusion of the women's game in a conference doubleheader.
