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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Reigning CAC Player of the Year Victoria Perry got her junior season started off on the right foot on Tuesday, scoring the lone goal of a 1-0 season-opening victory against Randolph-Macon College (0-1-0). Perry deposited her eighth career game-winner into the left side of the goal less than two minutes into the second half, leading CNU (1-0-0) to the home-opening win.

Perry, coming off a 35-point season a year ago, scored the Captains' first goal of the season off a pair of assists. Rookie Gabby Gillis started the play with a long pass through the middle to junior midfielder Allie McWilliams. The pass from McWilliams to the top of the box looked nearly broken up, but it was Perry who slipped through a pair of defenders and shot past the diving goalkeeper into the left side of the open net. The junior forward moves into a tie for 7th all-time in career game-winning goals with eight, while also sliding up to a tie for 13th in total tallies with 17. 

It was the lone missed play by Elizabeth Blanco in goal for the Yellow Jackets, who made 11 saves in the game. CNU outshot Randolph-Macon by a wide margin, putting 26 shots up, including 13 on-frame. The Captains looked ready to add to the 1-0 score on multiple occasions, including on a near-miss by junior defender Sam Rabinek off a corner kick. Sophomore Kimmie Kerstiens played a beautiful cross off the corner to the back post, where Rabinek connected on a header destined for the upper left corner. Her shot would be just high, however, glancing off the crossbar as R-MC evaded the second goal of the contest. 

In the 84th minute, another good chance by CNU was turned away by the Yellow Jackets defense, and again it came on a corner kick. This time, senior Lindsay Mondloch connected on the pass and Gillis directed a header past the keeper headed for the right side of the goal. As the ball bounced toward the goal line, a Macon defender slipped in to knock the shot away. 

The Captains' offense pushed forward all night and despite connecting on just one goal, showcased tremendous depth from head coach Dan Weiler's attacking group.  While Perry led the team with six shots, four on-frame, 12 different Captains registered at least one shot in the game, including eight with multiple attempts.

In goal, junior Haley Casanova picked up her 14th career solo shutout by making four saves for the Captains. Three shots on-goal came in the first half and just one following the break. Her biggest save of the night came out of the goal, however, as she ran out to clear a ball just outside of the box in a 2-on-1 break for the Yellow Jackets. 

CNU will return to action on Friday, September 4 at 8:00 pm as they take on Carthage College in the Atlantic Orthopedic Specialists Classic hosted by Virginia Wesleyan College. The Captains will also face Berry (Ga.) on Saturday at 8:00 pm in the tourney.