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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The depth of the Christopher Newport attack was on display again on Friday, as the Captains improved to 3-0-1 this season with a 3-0 shutout of Houghton College (2-2-0) in the 2015 Captains Classic. CNU got goals from three different players, while three others chipped in assists in the contest, rushing past the Highlanders to remain unbeaten this season. 

In the first half, CNU outshot the visiting Highlanders by a tally of 13-1, including an assault on starting goalkeeper Shawna Sprout to the tune of seven shots on goal. In the 12th minute of action, CNU got on the board behind the first career goal of rookie midfielder Gabby Gillis. Playing the near post on a corner kick by Lindsay Mondloch, Gillis leaped and directed a header into the left side of the goal for what would prove to be the eventual gamewinner. 

Sprout turned away six more chances by the Captains in the first half, but momentum clearly favored the CNU attack. Coming out of the break, it wouldn't take long to tack on an insurance goal off the foot of leading scorer, Victoria Perry. Sophomore Kimmie Kerstiens played a picture-perfect through ball to the left side for Perry, who wasted no time in delivering the second goal of the contest past the diving keeper into the right side of the goal. 

The CNU attack continued to pressure Houghton, taking a total of 22 shots with 10 put on-frame. In the 80th minute of action, the Captains tacked on a third goal to deliver a back-breaking blow to any thought of a comeback by the Highlanders. Battling hard at the top of the box for a 50-50 ball,  Allie McWilliams stuck with the play long enough to slide a pass out to the right side for rookie Arial Gardner. The freshman then dribbled toward the goal and punched home her first career tally from just outside the goalie's box. 

Defensively, the back line made junior goalkeeper Haley Casanova's day relatively simple, as she faced just two shots on goal. She turned away both attempts, which both came from distance. Late in the second half, Nikki Garns plastered a well-struck shot toward the center of the goal, but it sailed high on what was likely Houghton's best chance from the offensive end. 

Casanova earned her third shutout of the season, giving her 16 career clean sheets. She moved into a tie for third all-time at Christopher Newport, sharing the spot with Dineen Sampson (2006-09) and trailing only Meghan Gumbs (2009-12) with 21 and all-time leader Erin Wojtkun (2005-08) with 23. 

The 3-0 women's soccer win was also a historical milestone for the Christopher Newport Department of Athletics, checking in as the 6,000th career win in the history of the entire program. Across all sports, the Captains have posted a tremendous overall winning percentage of 61.5% with an all-time record of 6000-3736-97. So far in 2015, the Captains' fall sports have combined for a 15-1-1 overall record, a mark better than 91%.  One of the younger programs at CNU, the women's soccer team accounts for 219 of those 6000 victories, while posting an all-time mark of 219-114-23 (.647). 

Day two of the 2015 Captains Classic will be Saturday, September 12, as the Virginia Wesleyan Marlins take on Houghton at 1:00 pm, followed by the host Captains facing Methodist University at 3:00 pm. The final game of the tournament will feature VWC and Methodist on Sunday, September 13 at 1:00 pm. Live stats and video will be available for all games, weather permitting.