NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport women's soccer team matched a program record for wins in a season with a 2-0 victory over the University of Scranton on Sunday evening, propelling the Captains into the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 for just the second time in program history. CNU improved to 19-1-0 with their 14th straight victory and learned they will host the Sectional Round next weekend when they face off against 18th-ranked Hope College Friday night.
The NCAA announced the next round host sites late Sunday night, as Christopher Newport University will play host to it's first ever women's soccer sectional championship. Along with Hope College, CNU will welcome No. 2 Messiah College and No. 17 University of Lynchburg in the other Round of 16 matchup. Games will be played at 5:00 and 7:30 pm, with CNU slated to play in the late game, with the Elite Eight final being played at 6:00 pm on Saturday. More details will follow on CNUsports.com throughout the week.
Earning their way to hosting rights in the next round, the Captains put together yet another sensational performance on the field in postseason play Sunday night. CNU scored twice in the first half and then held on for the shutout victory against the Royals, who suffered just their second loss of the season. With the season-ending loss, Scranton closed the book on their season with an impressive 16-2-3 overall mark. Christopher Newport matched last season's program record with 19 wins in a year and have also tied the second longest win streak in program history with 14 straight victories.
Sophomore
Riley Cook netted her program-record 10th game-winning goal of the season in the 13th minute of action on a powerful header for her 23rd goal of the season. Senior
Gabby Gillis started the play with a nice ball into the corner for sophomore
Maxine Borris, the team's leader in assists. Borris lofted an exquisite cross to the back post where Cook was left alone for the score. Borris matched the program's single season record for assists in a year with her 13th helper, tying Carly Utterback in 2012 and teammate
Carson Pokorny last season.
The Captains tacked on an insurance goal in the 42nd minute when Pokorny looked to cross the ball in the box and had her pass played off a defender to the feet of rookie
Kristina Toms. Toms, who has caught fire in the second half of the season, worked her way into space around the defender and blistered a right-footed laser off the bottom of the crossbar and into the back of the net. The freshman forward has scored 11 goals this season, including five in the postseason and eight in the last seven games.
The CNU defense was tested in the second half as Scranton battled for their postseason lives, but the Captains were stout in the team's 10th shutout this season. Sophomore goalkeeper
Haley Eiser made a pair of exceptional saves, with a dive to her right and a sprawling stop to her left in the second half. The Royals were unable to break through the Captains defense despite 13 shots, which matched the most allowed by the stingy CNU back line this year.
CNU last reached the Sweet 16 in 2004 when the team advanced to the Elite Eight with a 1-0 win over Lynchburg College in Wheaton, Ill. The Captains were eliminated in the sectional final that season by Wheaton College, 4-0. This weekend's games will be the first Sweet 16 soccer games played at Captains Field since 2008 when the CNU men's program hosted Emory and Messiah.
Video Highlights
Postgame Press Conference
