SALISBURY, Md. -- For the fifth time this season, the luck fell in favor of the Captains' opponent in the waning moments of games as the Christopher Newport men's soccer team suffered a 1-0 setback to Salisbury University (10-2-2, 3-1-1) on the road. In seven losses this season, all by one goal, the Captains suffered the deciding score in the final two minutes of action.
In Wednesday's setback, the Captains allowed just a single shot on goal, coming off of Robbie Budd's foot in the 89th minute of action. Budd was on the receiving end of a cross from Stephen White and headed home the game-winning goal with just 1:38 left in the game. CNU fell to 6-7-0, 2-3-0 with the loss.
Three times this season the CNU men's soccer team has suffered overtime losses, and now twice in CAC action the Captains suffered a goal in the final two minutes of regulation. CNU also suffered a 1-0 loss at Frostburg State with a goal in the 89th minute.
Facing the Sea Gulls on the road, the Captains outshot the home team by a final count of 13-6, including a 7-1 edge in shots on goal. CNU held the advantage offensively through the bulk of the first half, including shots on-goal from
Zachary Ballard,
Jordan Boone, and
Stephen Durbin.
Justin Wilson also challenged the Salisbury goalkeeper, Trevor Brookhart, late in the frame, but the Sea Gulls keeper stoned each attempt.
In the first 15 minutes of the second half, Durbin added two more attempts on frame and one just wide left. In the 65th minute, the Captains final attempt on frame came off the foot of
Michael Wilson, but CNU was unable to convert.
The CNU defense was the story most of the night, led by senior
Bobby Seifert. The rest of the back line of
Daniel Hulett,
Derek Cook, and
Davis Pillow helped hold the Salisbury attack, averaging 6.5 shots on-goal per game coming into the game, to just one in the game. The CNU defense held Salisbury to just two shots in the first 45 minutes and only four more after the break. The Captains also caught the Sea Gulls offense offsides eight times in the contest.
The Captains have now allowed one goal or fewer in nine games this season and own a 0.98 goals-against average for the season.
CNU will wrap up the road portion of their regular season schedule on Saturday, October 20 at nationally-ranked Mary Washington. Game time is set for 3:30 pm.
