FROSTBURG, Md. -- Powered by a strong performance from the team's leading scorers, the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team traveled to Frostburg State and scored twice in the first half en route to a 2-1 victory on the road. The Captains improved to 8-1-0 overall and 2-0-0 in league action while the Bobcats fell to 3-8-0, 1-1-0.
Coming into Saturday's matchup, senior
Gabby Gillis and sophomore
Riley Cook led the Captains in the scoring column and the duo exited the game tied atop the charts with 20 points each. Gillis scored once, and Cook added a goal and an assist to tie her senior teammate for the league lead in point scored this season.
The Captains took a 2-0 lead with quick back-to-back scores in the first half, starting with Gillis' team-leading eighth goal of the season. Cook assisted on the score, which came in the 25th minute of action. Under four minutes later, Cook connected on her own tally, off an assist by
Maddie Cochran.
With the quick offensive spurt, both Gillis and Cook have now scored eight goals with four assists this season. With Cook's three-point performance, she became the first player in program history to score 20 points in each of her first two seasons. She also connected on her fourth game-winning goal of the season, and ninth of her career. Cook is now tied with CNU Athletics Hall of Famer Ashleigh Dota for 7th all-time in winning strikes in her career.
The CNU offense dominated the action throughout the contest, earning 13 corner kicks while the Captains' defense did not allow one. The Captains outshot the Bobcats, 30-9, including an 11-5 advantage in shots on-goal.
Frostburg State cut the lead in half with less than 15 minutes remaining when Danielle McClain scored her first goal of the season. After giving up the score, the Captains' offense continued to pressure the Bobcats' back line, taking seven more shots in the final spurt, including three narrow misses.
Gabby Gillis and sister
Sabrina Gillis each forced FSU goalkeeper Stephanie Vigezzi to make a pair of saves, and Cook had a shot glance off the post in the 82nd minute.
The Captains return to action this Monday, kicking off a run of four straight home games. CNU hosts Virginia Wesleyan University at 7:30 pm at Captains Field.
