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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- With a pair of assists in a 2-0 victory in the Capital Athletic Conference Semifinals, Christopher Newport senior Victoria Perry passed Emma O'Reilly atop the all-time scoring list, with 104 career points. She assisted on both goals in a win over #4 Mary Washington, as the Captains improved to 15-2-1 and advanced to the CAC Championship Game to be held at Captains Field this Saturday evening.  Sophomore Gabby Gillis netted the gamewinner just under seven minutes into the second half, and CNU held on for their 11th shutout this season. 

CNU will take on #2 Frostburg State in the Championship Game, after the Bobcats escaped the semifinals with a penalty kick shootout victory in a 1-1 draw with St. Mary's College of Maryland. The game will be played as the front end of a doubleheader with the men's championship, also hosted by Christopher Newport.

The Captains' senior became the programs' all-time leading scorer in true Victoria Perry fashion,  as she passed up a chance to go to goal to set up a teammates attempt. The Captains all-time leader in helpers shuffled a pass back to Alexis Haycraft who one-touched it over to rookie Shaye Doherty. The freshman ran through the ball, blistering a rocket shot into the left side of the goal to give CNU a 2-0 edge in the tournament contest. 

The record-breaking play came just two minutes and 18 seconds after the Captains lit up the scoreboard for the first time in the game, also courtesy of an assist from Perry. Gillis converted on her fourth goal of the season after a heady heel flick from Perry set her loose in the box. Like Doherty, it was another freshman defender that factored into the goal, as rookie Keiley McCarthy started the play that led to CNU's first goal of the game. The rookie drove up the left side before cutting inside to serve a pass to the top of the box toward Gillis; the sophomore midfielder trapped the ball to the ground, where Perry poked it to the right to set Gillis free to rip a hard shot top shelf into the middle of the goal. 

Doherty and McCarthy also helped lead another stifling performance for the top defensive unit in the league, as the pair combined with Kira Warner, Danielle Pratt, and Lauren Ciccone to secure the team's 11th shutout of the season. Junior goalkeeper Carly Maglio picked up the clean sheet, matching the program record for solo shutouts in a single season, while lowering her goals-against average to 0.38. She also became just the second player in program history to win 15 games in a single season. 

The CNU defense allowed just eight total shots, with only three on frame. Mary Washington's best chances came off the foot of Allye Reynolds, who took five of the team's eight shots. Reynolds powered a shot to the left side of the goal minutes into the second half, but Maglio went to the ground to make the stop. Then, with about 28 minutes remaining, Reynolds again knocked a hard shot on frame from inside the box, but Maglio dove to her left for the save. 

With a 2-0 lead early in the second half, the CNU offense was able to control the ball in the midfield for most of the remaining time. CNU finished with a 14-8 advantage in total shots, including a slight 5-3 advantage in shots on-goal. With the setback, Mary Washington closed their CAC Tournament appearance with an 11-6-2 overall record.

Perry's second assist was her 30th career helper, which pairs with 37 career goals for 104 total points. Perry played with O'Reilly during her freshman season in 2013 when her teammate set the scoring mark with 47 goals and nine assists. That season, Perry finished with two goals and six assists, but in the three years since, she has made a torrid ascent up the three major offensive statistical categories, ranking first in assists and points, and tied for second in career goals. 

The Captains will take on the Bobcats at 5:30 pm, looking to capture the program's first ever CAC Championship. Live stats and video will be available at CNUsports.com/live.

Editor's Note: A scoring update has been made to the first goal of the game, and an earlier version of this story has been updated to reflect the change.

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