SALEM, Va. -- As Mother Nature continues to wreak havoc on the Christopher Newport women's soccer schedule, the nationally-ranked Captains continued to overcome the elements on Thursday evening with a 4-1 win at Roanoke College after a nearly 90-minute rain delay. So far in 2018, CNU has played just two games not impacted by rain or thunderstorms, and yet remain undefeated with a 5-0-0 record after Thursday's triumph. 

As part of the victory, Christopher Newport senior Gabby Gillis started her 67th consecutive game in the midfield for the Captains, passing Victoria Perry ('17) and becoming the all-time leader in program history. Gillis has started every game of her career and is one of only three players to start 60 or more consecutive games (Gillis, Perry, Alexis Stahlman ('14)).

With a 5:00 pm scheduled kickoff at Kerr Stadium in Salem, the Captains were poised to defend their season-opening win streak, but a massive rainstorm made its way through the area and forced a delay. The teams did not actually kick off until 6:20 pm, and marked the seventh game in the first nine scheduled contests on the 2018 slate to be impacted by weather for CNU. 

After the delay, the home team took a 1-0 edge early in the contest with a header goal in the 11th minute. Abigail Frazier found Kathryn Van Orden for the score, which marked just the third tally allowed by the Captains defense in five games this season. 

The lead wouldn't hold long, as the Captains quickly got an equalizer in the 17th minute when junior Carson Pokorny netted her first goal of the season. The score would hold at 1-1 until halftime, when the red-hot CNU offense kicked into form. The Captains scored three goals in the span of just 4:10 between the 60th and 64th minutes, running away from the Maroons. 

Leading the charge was Gillis and sophomore Riley Cook, the two leading scorers for the Captains. First, on the eventual game-winning goal, Gillis set up her sophomore teammate for a shot into the right side of the goal in the 60th minute. Then, just under two minutes later, sophomore defender Lulu Manley set up Cook for her second goal of the game. 

Gillis notched a tally of her own another two minutes later, with an assist by rookie midfielder Kristina Toms. While making her historical start, the senior midfielder finished the game with 3 points, extending her league leading total to 14. Cook's two goals moved her into double figure scoring for the season as CNU's second-year forward now has 12 points on 5 goals and 2 assists. 

With the win CNU is 5-0 for just the second time in program history. They will put that pristine mark on the line next against nationally-ranked Lynchburg on Wednesday, September 26 as the Captains stay on the road for non-conference action. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 pm.