YORK, Pa. -- Coming out of a defensive struggle with a 1-0 win on the road, the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport men's soccer team downed York College of Pennsylvania (8-7-2, 4-5-0) on a rainy Saturday night. The Captains improved to 11-2-3 overall, 8-1-0 in league play and clinched the 2019 regular season conference championship with the win.

Under first year head coach Justin Chezem the Captains picked up the program's third regular season title since joining the Capital Athletic Conference in 2013. The road win, paired with a Mary Washington draw on Saturday, ensured Christopher Newport the top seed in next week's conference tournament. 

In the matchup on Saturday night, neither team was able to mount a number of quality chances with just 16 total shots taken in the game. Christopher Newport had 11 total shots with four on frame and York managed just five shots against the vaunted Captains defense, putting only three on net. 

The Captains were playing with the lead for most of the night after senior Michael Wilson scored for the second straight game. Just 9:57 into game action, Wilson got his head on the ball and directed the shot past Billy Bridegum, the York goalkeeper. The goal was the second of the season for Wilson and his second consecutive gamewinner. 

From there, the defense and goalkeepers were the story. For the Captains, senior Justin Piercy made a game-saving diving stop with ten minutes remaining in regulation when Joey Faddoul ripped a hard shot that ricocheted off a Christopher Newport defender. The shot whistled toward the right corner of the goal, but Piercy stretched the length of his body parallel to the ground to make the save and hold the lead. 

It would prove to be the last legitimate chance by the home team as the Captains defense continued to clear the ball downfield on every run for the remainder of the game. With the York defense pulling up looking for the equalizer, twice a Captains player got loose for a shot in the waning minutes. First, Cory Hogge challenged Bridegum with a shot in the 86th minute and Clark Chapman tried to chip the keeper a minute later but the placed shot was just high. 

With the bulk of the game played in the midfield, the Captains won the action with all four defenders playing the full 90 minutes. Seniors Derek Cook and Khari Jones paired with junior Davis Pillow and rookie Jacob Dudley to lock down the Spartans attack. Ahead of the back line in the midfield was Gabo Caicedo, Chapman, Ethan Larson, and Sam Dickinson helping control the ball. 

Christopher Newport will return to action on Wednesday, October 30 to close out the regular season at home against Salisbury University. Kickoff against the Sea Gulls is set for 5:00 pm at Captains Field.