Box Score in HTML Format

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Despite trailing at the half for just the second time this season, the Christopher Newport men's soccer team roared back to down Marymount University (4-11-2, 2-7-0) in the regular season finale, 2-1.  With the win, the Captains secured the program's first Capital Athletic Conference regular season title, and will be the top seed in next week's CAC Championship Tournament. 

CNU ran their unbeaten streak to ten games, improving to 15-2-1 overall with an 8-0-1 record against conference opponents. It is the first unbeaten conference regular season since 2011 when the Captains went 6-0 against the USA South Athletic Conference before going on to capture the tournament title as well. 

On Wednesday night, playing on a crisp, fall evening at Captains Field, the team dominated the first half, but still managed to enter the break trailing, 1-0. Despite outshooting the visitors, 11-2, it was a loose ball in the box with four minutes remaining that saw Marymount take the first-half lead. After a foul call led to a free kick inside the CNU half, Michael Ku-Dipietro lofted a service into the box that was headed twice by CNU players, but not cleared out of the 18. When the ball finally hit the ground, it was Marc Mendoza for Marymount that connected with it first, whistling a left-footed shot into the right side of the goal. 

In the first half, the Captains' top chances came on a volley from Stephen Durbin that was blistered high above the goal and a hard rip from defender Zach Douglass that was just feet above the crossbar. CNU took 11 shots in the first half, putting four on goal, including a terrific play by Hunter Johnson with just under seven minutes remaining. After rookie James Lee saved a broken play and slipped a pass to the center for Johnson, a nifty move at the top of the 18 saw Johnson open for a look. He ripped a shot right, but a diving save off the post averted disaster for Marymount. 

During the halftime break, the Captains adjusted and it would not take long into the second half before the equalizer was scored. Just five minutes into the second stanza, senior Sammy Blosser delivered a picture-perfect corner kick to the back post, where rookie Jordan Boone headed home the score. It was the freshman's fourth goal of the season, and first game-tying strike, while Blosser picked up his fourth assist of the season and moved into double-figure scoring with 10 points.

With momentum shifting back to Christopher Newport, the game-winning goal would come 15 minutes later on a play that was beautifully built from the back line. After Marymount looked to have a breakaway down the right side,  Blosser made a sensational play to track back and tackle the ball away from the Saints attacker. The ball then bounced to Daniel Zeitoun, who looked ahead and pounded a long pass toward midfield; sophomore Stephen Durbin was racing forward with Patrick Burns, and Durbin flicked the pass ahead through a pair of defenders. With no one left to beat, Burns raced into the box and angled home the gamewinner to the right side of the goal. 

Burns and Blosser were celebrating their last regular season home game along with eight other CNU seniors. Burns punctuated the celebration with his 26th career goal and fifth of the season. 

The Captains won the battle in the midfield from start to finish, holding possession for most of the match. Sophomore Andrew Maeso and junior Hunter Johnson shared time in the defensive midfield position, while senior Jimmy Grace manned the other spot in the center midfield. With a strong performance from the defense, the Captains allowed only two shots in the game, including just one on-goal. 

For the contest, CNU outshot Marymount by a final tally of 29-2, including a 10-1 advantage in shots on-goal. CNU took 10 corner kicks without allowing one to the Saints. 

The Captains will now focus their attention on the postseason, readying to host the CAC Semifinal matchup next Tuesday, November 1. CNU will face the winning team of the #4 Penn State Harrisburg and #5 Frostburg State matchup set to take place on Saturday, October 29.  

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