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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Despite outshooting the Eagles 23-5, including a dominating late surge in the second half, the top-seeded Christopher Newport women's soccer team could not find an equalizer as 5th-seeded Mary Washington captured a 1-0 win in the Capital Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinals on Tuesday night. The Eagles (10-8-2) will host York College (Pa.) in the CAC Championship game on Saturday. 

Christopher Newport falls to 14-5-1 on the season with the setback, and will await a decision by the NCAA National Championship Committee to see if their resume is strong enough for a third consecutive at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA selection show will be broadcast online Monday, November 9 at 1:00 pm. 

In a first half dominated by possession with limited number of opportunities, the Eagles scored the game's lone goal in the 34th minute. It came off a free kick from their own half as Michelle Gibbons boomed a pass down the left side, where rookie Marisa Madaras took one touch from the left side of the 18-yard box and then scored on a high shot over the goalkeeper's head. 

Just moments earlier, CNU came away empty on their finest chance of the first half as senior Lindsay Mondloch set up a play from the left side. Mondloch crossed a pass into the box where Taylor Hudgins slipped a pass to Kimmie Kersteins for a look from about seven yards out, but her one-time attempt was high. 

After a slow first half, the Captains picked up the pace in the second with a 16-2 edge in total shots. CNU put six on-frame after the intermission, but rookie goalkeeper Haley Randall was up to the task each time, turning away every CNU shot.  One of her finest stops came in the 67th minute as Mondloch stepped in from 30 yards and scorched a blazing line drive toward the middle of the goal, but Randall leaped and just got her fingertips on the attempt, pushing the shot off the crossbar. 

Off the ensuing corner kick, the ball was loose on the near post as several Mary Washington defenders tried to clear, but junior Victoria Perry was able to rip a shot on frame that Randall snared. As CNU pushed for the game-tying goal, they forced Randall to work in the final 20 minutes, putting four shots on frame. Mondloch had one, while Allie McWilliams added two and Gabby Gillis added another. 

The Captains defense did a stellar job limiting chances throughout the game, allowing just five total shots and just two on-goal. After the goal, the Eagles only had one real opportunity to add to their lead when they were awarded a free kick from the center of the field, just outside the 18-yard box. Gibbons stepped in an drilled a hard shot over the wall, but the shot sailed high. 

Defensively, Sam Rabinek, Kira Warner, Carly Melkus, Danielle Pratt and Megan Weast held down the Mary Washington offense, coming into the game averaging 2.0 goals per contest. Sophomore goalkeeper Carly Maglio made one save and fell to 10-4-0 on the season. 

The Captains were eliminated from the CAC Tournament with the loss, just their second in the last 11 games of the season.