Box Score in HTML Format

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Playing in their final road non-conference game of the regular season, the 7th-ranked Captains stayed hot and ran their unbeaten streak to seven with a 2-0 victory at Methodist University on Wednesday. Christopher Newport improves to 6-0-1 with the victory while the host Monarchs fall to 2-4-1 after allowing two first-half goals to CNU. 

A pair of goals in a span of under six minutes in the first half was enough for the stingy CNU defense to hold on for victory. The first came in the 34th minute off a set piece taken by senior Sebastian Abrigo. The Captains' midfielder lofted a perfect cross into the box, where fellow senior Ryan Balfour leaped and directed a header on frame for the score. It was his second goal of the year, connecting on his second game-winning strike. 

Then, just under six minutes later it was sophomore Girma Baker who blasted home his first career goal. The second-year player had a pair of assists in last week's game against N.C. Wesleyan and added his first tally of the season in the 40th minute of Wednesday night's game. 

With a two-goal lead, the Captains defense took control and stifled any semblance of a Methodist offense in the game. The Monarchs managed just four total shots in the game, including just two on-frame. Junior goalkeeper Nolan Mann turned away both attempts to secure his fifth shutout of the season. 

The game only featured 12 shots in total, with CNU holding an 8-4 edge.

Christopher Newport will return to Captains Field for three straight, including the final two non-conference games of the year against Greensboro College (1-3-0) and Lynchburg College (4-1-0). The Captains will take on the Pride on Saturday, September 19 at 7:00 pm.