Box Score Box Score in HTML Format

ATLANTA, Ga. -- Playing as a nationally-ranked team for the first time this season, the 13th-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team captured a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory at Emory University (3-2-0) on Friday night. Sophomore Carson Pokorny lifted the Captains to the win with a goal in the 99th minute of action, improving CNU to 5-0-1 on the year. 

With the victory, the Captains improved their season-opening unbeaten streak to six games, tying the second longest run in program history. CNU was also 5-0-1 to start the 2015 season, while opening the 2000 campaign with an 8-0-0 mark. 

After an evenly matched first half, the Captains came away with a lead at the break thanks to a goal late in the stanza. With less than four minutes remaining in the opening half, CNU earned a corner kick from the left side of the field. Hailey Shaw delivered a nice ball into the box, but it was booted down the center of the field by the Eagles defense. With an open field, the lone Captain back was senior defender Danielle Pratt, who stepped up and smashed a hard shot from just inside midfield.

The long attempt skied the field players and skipped off the turf in the box over the leaping goalkeeper and into the top shelf of the goal. The shot caught Emory's goalkeeper off guard and the in-between hop bounced right over her head to get CNU on the board with Pratt's first goal of the season. 

At halftime, Emory held a slight 7-6 advantage in total shots while CNU put two  on goal versus the Eagles' one. A physical matchup was played primarily in the midfield as both teams had runs squashed by the opposing defenses. 

Emory would get even in the 60th minute when Shivani Beall set up Caroline Kolski for the equalizer from just outside the box. The Eagles attack ratcheted up late in the game and forced CNU senior goalkeeper Carly Maglio to stay on her toes. In the 77th minute, Abbe McCarter tested Maglio with a hard shot to her left, but the Captain netminder made a sensational diving stop to keep the game tied. In the 86th, Emory seemed destined to score with two players loose in the box, but again Maglio slid to the ground to make a game-saving snag. 

As the team's moved into extra time, the game continued to teeter evenly between the two squads. It wasn't until the final two minutes of the first overtime period that CNU took control for the win. The final play was set up by an attempt by Riley Cook, that was saved by Emory goalkeeper Haley Pratt. On the ensuing throw from Pratt, there was a miscommunication with her teammate and CNU midfielder Hailey Shaw stepped in for a quick through ball to Pokorny.  The sophomore had Pratt out of the net and slipped a perfectly placed low bouncer into the left side of the goal for the game-winning goal. 

The Captains, ranked seventh in the D3soccer.com Top 25, topped No. 24 Emory with the win. CNU will return to action on the same field this Sunday, taking on Berry College in neutral site play with a Noon kickoff.