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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Behind the team's 15th multi-goal effort of the season, the Christopher Newport men's soccer team clinched a spot in the 2016 Capital Athletic Conference Tournament after a 2-1 win at Salisbury on Wednesday afternoon. Leaning on league-leading scorers Jimmy Grace and Stephen Durbin, the Captains improved to 13-2-1 overall with a 6-0-1 mark in conference play after the win.  

With the loss, Salisbury falls to 6-7-1 overall, 3-4-0 in CAC action, and remains on the cusp for the conference tournament. CNU remains atop the conference standings with two games remaining on the schedule.

Durbin was the first to get on the board, connecting in the 17th minute of action for his league-leading 10th goal of the season. Grace set up the goal, picking up his sixth assist of the season when he connected with Durbin near the top of the box. The CNU sophomore took the pass and lobbed a high-arcing shot into the left side of the goal to get the Captains on the board. 

Not to be outdone, Grace then picked up a goal of his own in the 29th minute, on a play that would prove to be imperative to victory on Wednesday. The insurance tally would come unassisted from the top of the box, as Grace beat a defender and finished into the lower left side of the goal. Holding up as the gamewinner, the senior now has a team-high four winning goals this year. 

The Captains have dominated the first half all season long, and now own a +24 scoring margin in the first 45 minutes of games. With the two netted on Wednesday, CNU has now scored 28 goals in the opening stanza, while allowing just four. 

In the first half, the Captains' defense was tremendous, holding the home team to just two early shots in the half, including only one on-frame. CNU outshot Salisbury, 9-2, and put a bunch of pressure on Salisbury's starting goalkeeper, Robert Fiackos. 

Playing with a lead in the second half, the CNU defense would face intensified pressure from Salisbury as the home team battled for the comeback. CNU goalkeeper Zach Pedini made a sensational save in the 63rd minute when Kevin Miller saved a second-chance opportunity after a set piece, and slipped a pass back post for Dolph Hegewisch. The Sea Gulls attacker had an open look from close range, but Pedini angled back and stopped the powerful shot from just outside the six-yard box. 

Minutes later, Fiackos made a stellar save of his own, leaping to stop a bullet from Preston Key with just under 23 minutes remaining. Then, with just over 15 minutes left, Nathaniel Hand was played onsides down the left, but CNU's senior center back Harry Nodwell tracked back and stood up against the Salisbury forward, winning a challenge to stop the open chance. 

The Sea Gulls finally cashed in for their first goal in the 77th minute, when Hand set up Brooks Zentgraf for his third goal of the season. It would be the only mis-step for a strong defensive performance that saw Pedini make five saves and the back line allow only six shots on-goal. 

Christopher Newport will now travel to face Penn State Harrisburg on Saturday, October 22 with kickoff scheduled for 2:00 pm. The team will then close out the regular season at home for Senior Night on October 26 against Marymount University, with kickoff at 7:00 pm.