NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Continuing to shatter records at an unprecedented pace, junior forward Riley Cook picked up several more with four goals in a 7-0 bounceback victory for the 8th-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team on Wednesday night, as the Captains shut out St. Mary's (Md.). The Captains improved to 12-1-2 overall, 5-1-0 in CAC action while the Seahawks fell to 3-11-0, 1-5-0. 

In the 446 Christopher Newport women's soccer games before Riley Cook notched her first four-goal game this season, only twice has a Captain ever scored four goals in a game. With her second such showing on Wednesday night, Cook has now scored four goals in a game twice in the last six games. With the impressive single-game effort, once again tying the program record for goals and points in a game, Cook also took her place atop the junior scoring charts with a record-breaking 21 goals this season and 44 points. 

Already the program's record holder for points and goals in a season by a freshman and sophomore, the Captains' all-time leading scorer made it 3-for-3 by unseating Emma O'Reilly as the junior class' top player with 18 goals and 36 points.

The four-goal burst came in a wickedly quick 20:42, obliterating the previous team record for fastest four-goal showing. Hillary Carney logged four goals in 74:19, Allison Burr-Miller scored four goals in 35:00, and Cook's first four-goal showing came in 39:41. Cook also set a new record for fastest three consecutive goals scored by the same player by earning a hat trick in just 9:35. 

Despite the offensive outburst from Cook, the Captains' all-time leader in game-winning goals was not responsible for the winner in Wednesday nights bout. That would come off the foot of senior defender Keiley McCarthy with her first goal of the season. McCarthy received the ball around midfield and raced down the left side toward the top of the box. Once she reached the box she smashed a laser into the back of the net to convert the first goal of the game for the Captains, which would hold up as the winner. It came on the 11th shot on goal for the Captains offense as the potent attack peppered the St. Mary's keeper with on-target attempts all night. 

Despite the barrage, Christopher Newport had just a 1-0 lead at halftime with a 21-0 edge in total shots. The game would break open in the second half though as Cook took control. In the 51st minute, she converted on the first of two penalty kick attempts and then scored in the 52nd minute on a nice one-timer from Madison Cochran. Cochran broke down her first defender and then beat another before sliding a pass across the middle for Cook's touch into the net. Minutes later, Cook stepped up to the penalty spot again and completed the hat trick to give the Captains' a 4-0 lead in the 61st minute. 

Just after checking into the game, senior Hailey Shaw picked up a goal in the 69th minute when she found herself alone with the ball near the top of the box. Shaw smashed a hard shot off her defender and into the left side of the netting for her third goal of the year. 

The quick strike attack continued as the Captains scored on a beautiful combination in the 72nd minute. Shaw started the play with a hard pass up the middle that rookie Molly Beegle was able to reach out and redirect up field for Cook. Racing onsides through a pair of Seahawk defenders, Cook got to the ball first and slammed home her fourth goal of the night. 

Rounding out the seven-goal onslaught was rookie Sarah Rhiel in the 77th minute with another unassisted strike from outside. Rhiel received a pass from Ryanne Davidson and then had just one defender to beat before smoking a hard shot into the left side for the scoring tally. 

Haley Eiser was completely untested in goal with the Captains' defense holding St. Mary's without a shot in the 90-minute contest. Eiser improved to 12-1-2. The back line, leading the way in the impressive defensive performance, was led by seniors Shaye Doherty, McCarthy, and junior Montana Coward. Rookies Hannah Karas and Jill McDonald came on in relief while senior goalkeeper Maddy Belanger finished off the win for the final 18 and a half minutes. 

The dominant showing was a return to form after the Captains suffered just their second regular season loss in the last three seasons. Christopher Newport will look to stay in the win column on Saturday, October 19 as they travel to face Mary Washington at Noon.