Box Score in HTML Format

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Playing in the finale of the 2015 Joe Pombriant/CNU Soccer Classic, the eighth-ranked Christopher Newport Captains improved to 3-0-0 this season with a 2-0 win over the Neumann University Knights (1-1-0). CNU dropped the 2014 NCAA Tournament qualifier with a goal in each half, including the first career tally for freshman Zachary Ballard. 

Ballard connected on what would also prove to be his first game-winning strike in the 38th minute of action. Fellow freshman Hunter Simons slipped a pass between a pair of defenders to the top of the box, where Ballard shifted inside with a quick dribble and slid a low drive into the right side of the net. 

The Captains offense held the upperhand for the bulk of the match, outshooting the Knights by a final tally of 21-4. In goal, senior Tim Glaccum turned away eight CNU attempts as he kept his team in the game until the final minute. As Neumann pressed everything forward with time ticking away on the clock, the Captains got loose up the right side for a nifty exchange and insurance goal with five seconds remaining. 

First, Patrick Burns ripped the ball from a defender and played Ryan Balfour down the sideline before breaking free toward the corner on the give and go. Balfour's pass connected with Burns, who turned and fired a low line drive across the goal mouth and past Glaccum. Cleaning up on the back side was Andrew Gogolin, blistering home his first goal of the season. 

With just five seconds remaining, the insurance goal locked up the game for CNU. Burns came into the game leading CNU to its first two wins by scoring all four goals of the young season. On Sunday, he again led the offense with five shots, putting four on goal, and chipping in the assist on the second goal of the game. Henry Gotay and Sean Christein each added three shots, while Gogolin and Ballard each put both of their attempts on frame. 

The CNU defense stood tall on Sunday, allowing just four shots, including three that were no where near Nolan Mann and the Captains goal. The Knights only real chance came in the 56th minute when Tben Donnie smoked a shot high from the right side. It was the only shot by Neumann in the second half, as CNU took control with a 12-1 advantage in attempts after halftime. 

The Captains hit the road for the next four games, taking on N.C. Wesleyan in their next matchup on Wednesday, September 9. After facing their former conference rivals, CNU will then travel to Rutgers-Camden for a two-day tournament in which they will face the New Jersey City University Gothic Knights and the host Scarlet Raptors. The road trip will end next Wednesday, as CNU travels to Methodist University for a 5:00 pm kick off.