Box Score in HTML Format
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The dominant run through the 2017 season continued on Wednesday night as postseason play began for the 8th-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team, with the Captains blitzing by St. Mary's (Md.), 3-0 in the Capital Athletic Conference Semifinals. CNU matched the program record for wins in a season, with 17, and will play for its second straight conference title on Saturday, November 4.
With the win, Christopher Newport maintained it's unbeaten season with a 17-0-1 overall record while St. Mary's (Md.) falls to 6-9-4 after the loss. CNU matched last season's program record for wins in a season and will also set a new program mark for fewest losses in a single year.
The victory was driven by another sensational defensive performance while the offense poured in three second-half goals. The Captains outshot the Seahawks, 29-2, including a 10-1 advantage in shots on-goal. Both teams were held scoreless in the first half, with CNU holding a 12-0 edge in total attempts from the field.
Defensively, the Captains had a newcomer to the starting lineup as veteran
Kira Warner stepped in as one of the center backs, playing alongside rookie Alexi Manley and sophomores
Shaye Doherty and
Keiley McCarthy. The back line looked just as stout with Warner plugged infor all 90 minutes as the Captains allowed just two total shots. Senior goalkeeper
Carly Maglio was unchallenged in the match, with just one attempt coming on-frame. Maglio registered her eighth solo shutout of the season and lowered her goals-against average to 0.49.
On the offensive side of the field, the Captains scored three times in the second half to run away with the win. The league's leading scorer, freshman Riley Cook, picked up what would prove to be the game-winning goal in the 57th minute of action off an assist by
Gabby Gillis. Gillis worked through a trio of defenders inside the box before she slipped a pass to the middle for Cook. After one dribble to her right, Cook blistered a line drive into the left side of the goal for the match's first goal.
Cook continues to add to her illustrious first season with her freshman record 15th goal of the season, while also collecting her fifth gamewinner. Her 34 points this season not only shatter the rookie record at CNU, but climbs to seventh with Dani Gunderson's 2012 campaign on the all-time single season chart for the Captains. Her 15 goals also rank sixth all-time at CNU.
Gillis would add a goal of her own in the 70th minute and with the three-point performance, adds the Captains' second 30-point season of the year. Her career best numbers continue to grow with 12 goals and six assists. Finally, the Captains' third leading scorer also added an unassisted tally as sophomore
Carson Pokorny put away a loose ball in the box in the 80th minute of play.
Christopher Newport will advance to play for the 2017 league championship at home on Saturday, hosting second-seeded Frostburg State at 8:00 pm. The game will be the nightcap of a championship doubleheader with the men's team, who will kick off against Mary Washington at 5:00 pm.
