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BALTIMORE, Md. -- For the first time since the 2004 season, the Christopher Newport women's soccer team advanced in the NCAA Division III Tournament, taking down nationally-ranked Rowan University (16-2-2) at Homewood Field on Saturday night, 3-2. The Captains set a new program record for wins in a season, improving to 17-2-1 with the victory, powered by all-time leading scorer Victoria Perry's two goals. 

Christopher Newport will take on host and 12th-ranked Johns Hopkins University in the second round on Sunday, with kickoff scheduled for 5:00 pm. The Blue Jays advanced in a 3-1 win over Western Connecticut State on Saturday evening, and will take on the Captains for the first time since the 2007 season. 

In Saturday's showdown with the Profs, the game was billed as a defensive matchup, with both teams ranked in the Top 25 nationally in goals-against average. After both teams scored in the first half, it turned into more of a shootout, with the Profs becoming the first team to score more than once on the vaunted CNU defense, while the Captains registered three goals against a Rowan D that had allowed just five all season. 

It was Rowan that would strike first, getting a goal on a 35-yard bomb out of Maxine New off a free kick in the 24th minute. She found the upper right corner to put the Profs in front in a game with limited offensive opportunities in the first 20 minutes. 

Just nine minutes later, Perry connected on her ninth goal of the season, moving into sole possession of second all-time in career tallies, on a one-timer goal from freshman Shaye Doherty. The defender crossed in the ball from the right, where Perry connected on a low liner into the right side of the goal from inside the six-yard box. 

The teams went into the intermission tied at 1-1, as both defenses held off the opposing attack for the remainder.  Rowan held an 8-4 advantage in shots, and neither team managed to work for a corner kick in the first 45 minutes. 

Out of the break, it was the Captains who took their first lead of the game just 1:18 into the frame. Gabby Gillis delivered the go-ahead goal, smashing a long shot off the crossbar and down into the goal for her seventh score of the season. The lead would hold for just over 16 minutes, before Rowan found an equalizer of their own in the 63rd minute. On a corner kick, New lofted a cross back into the box for Shannon Reardigan, who headed home the goal for her 10th of the season. 

With plenty of time left in the match, the Captains appeared to be the aggressor offensively, and it would pay off in the 75th minute. A beautiful combination play up the middle of the field set up the eventual game-winning goal for Perry. The all-time leader in game-winning goals was slipped a pass through a pair of defenders by Angie Williams, where Perry took one dribble to her left and blistered a shot past the goalkeeper into the left side of the goal. 

The Captains bench erupted, with just 15 minutes left to hold on, and that's just what the CNU defense did. Rowan worked for five corner kicks in the second half, including several late as the Profs threw everything forward looking for another game-tying goal, but the Captains back line stood tall, denying the chance. Carly Maglio faced just five shots on-goal, making three saves, while the defense for CNU did a terrific job holding the dangerous Rowan forwards to attempts from outside the 18.

Alexis Haycraft made several strong defensive plays down the stretch, booting the ball downfield to force time off the clock in the final minutes. Danielle Pratt and Kira Warner anchored the back line, while Keiley McCarthy, Shaye Doherty, and defensive midfielders Kate Hurlock and Sydney Rife also helped secure the win. 

CNU is the only team to score three goals against the Rowan defense this season, as the Profs came in allowing only three teams to find the back of the net all season against their back line. With her two goals, Perry eclipsed the 30-point plateau for the third time in her career, becoming the first CNU player in program history to do so.

The postseason win is the first under fourth-year head coach Dan Weiler, as the Captains are making their third NCAA Tournament appearance during his tenure. CNU has reached the NCAA Tournament 2nd Round only once prior to 2016, en route to an Elite Eight finish in 2004. 

In the first game of the NCAA Tournament doubleheader, senior Meg Van de Loo registered a hat trick for Johns Hopkins in a 3-1 win over Western Connecticut State, scoring in her 15th straight match. The Captains and Blue Jays will kick off at Homewood Field at 5:00 pm, with live stats and live video available -- links found at CNUsports.com.