Box Score in HTML Format
BUENA VISTA, Va. -- Freshman
Riley Cook continued the exceptional start to her career on Wednesday night, scoring two more goals and adding an assist as she helped lead the 9th-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team to a 4-1 win on the road in Capital Athletic Conference play. The Captains improved to 10-0-1 and 3-0-0 in league play, downing Southern Virginia University, who fall to 3-7-1, 0-3-0.
Cook's sensational start now includes a league-leading 23 points on 10 goals, tied for the league high, and three assists. With six games left in the regular season, Cook's freshman campaign already ranks tied for 3rd in CNU history in points and goals scored by a freshman (Kendall Dishaw - 2008).
The Captains continue to add to the program's best start to a season by remaining unbeaten through the first 11 games with a 10-0-1 record. CNU remains one of only 11 programs in the country without a loss this season.
On Wednesday evening, the CNU offense that ranked 14th in the nation in scoring coming into the game was back on display against the Knights. The two leading scorers for CNU hooked up for the first goal of the game as junior
Gabby Gillis picked up the assist on Cook's first goal of the night. The score came just 3:36 into the contest as Cook received a pass in front of the net and put away the goal off Gillis' pass.
In the 20th minute, sophomore
Carson Pokorny netted the eventual gamewinner on an unassisted strike. Despite a 14-0 advantage in total shots in the first half, the Captains would settle for a 2-0 advantage at the break. In the second stanza, it was Cook again who started the scoring in the 69th minute. Rookie
Maxine Borris took a corner kick for the Captains and Cook delivered the tally with a volley hammered into the goal.
Southern Virginia cut the lead back to two in the 81st minute when Taylor Mercer set up Kora Jewell on a corner kick goal. It would be one of just two shots in the game for the Knights and the only attempt on-frame. Sophomore
Maddy Belanger played all 90 minutes in goal for the Captains in her first career start to earn the victory.
Less than two minutes after the Southern Virginia goal, the Captains would re-take a three-goal lead and held the 4-1 advantage for the remainder. Cook played a through ball to senior
Alex Miller, who finished for the score. It was Miller's fourh goal of the year and Cook's third helper.
The Captains outshot the Knights by a final tally of 29-2, including a 13-1 advantage in shots on-goal. CNU also took 10 corner kicks to SVU's one. The multi-goal performance was the ninth of the season for CNU.
The Captains will now return home for a key conference matchup against Frostburg State University (3-6-2, 2-0-1) on Saturday, October 7 at 4:00 pm. Live stats and a live video webcast will be available at CNUsports.com/live.
