NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In a matchup featuring two of the region's top defensive units, the 19th-ranked Lynchburg College Hornets (11-1-3) scored a first-half goal and then held on to hand 15th-ranked Christopher Newport it's second defeat of the season, 1-0. The Captains fall to 13-2-1 after the setback, and will close out the regular season on the road this Wednesday, October 26. 

Coming into the game, the two defenses had combined to allow just eight goals this season and both ranked in the top 20 nationally in scoring defense. The game would live up to the billing as a physical, tough battle ensued, with limited quality chances on either side of the field. 

It was the Hornets that would control most of the movement going forward early in the game, and it would lead to a goal in the 17th minute of action. On a corner kick by Samantha Bagherpour, senior Marina Clark got a header on frame, but CNU junior goalkeeper Carly Maglio was there for the stop. With traffic in the box, the ball got loose and Clark crashed to the ball and tipped home the shot for her second goal of the season. 

After weathering the initial burst by the Lynchburg attack, the CNU defense would be forced to adjust with junior center back Danielle Pratt leaving the game to an injury. Rookie Keiley McCarthy would slide inside to play most of the game in the middle with junior starter Kira Warner, while Shaye Doherty manned her usual post on the outside. Sophomore Angie Williams replaced Pratt, and the group would allow only three more shots on goal the rest of the game. 

Offensively, CNU struggled to maintain possession against the Lynchburg defense, but managed two shots on-goal in the frame. The best chance came with just over eight minutes before halftime when seniors Victoria Perry and Allie McWilliams connected for an open look. Perry sprinted past her defender down the right side and then slipped a centering pass to the middle of the box for McWilliams. She got one touch on it and then ripped a shot toward the goal, but LC keeper Tess Frelick made the stop. 

Just before halftime, Lynchburg had another run down the field that forced Maglio out off her line, but the Captains' netminder made a stellar sliding stop on the shot by Kennedy Jakubek. 

Facing a 1-0 deficit in the second half, the Captains' offense continued to ramp up their pressure as the minutes clicked away. CNU took seven shots after the break, with three going on-goal. The majority of the second stanza was played in the Lynchburg half of the field, as CNU pressured for the equalizer. 

With just over 19 minutes remaining, Williams served a ball to the top of the box and rookie Logan Montel flicked a pass into the box for Perry. One-on-one with the keeper, Perry ripped a hard shot high, but Frelick leaped to make the game-saving stop for the Hornets. 

Junior midfielder Alexis Haycraft had a terrific game in the middle of the park, and had the last quality chance for for the Captains on frame, forcing Frelick to make a diving save to her right.

Christopher Newport will close out the regular season on Wednesday, October 26 at 4:00 pm, taking on Marymount University in Arlington, Va. CNU will then prep for the CAC Semifinals, which they will host on Tuesday, November 1. 

Highlights