Christopher Newport Press Conference

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 2019 season came to a heartbreaking conclusion on Sunday evening for the 23rd-ranked Christopher Newport men's soccer team after playing to a 0-0 draw with Swarthmore College (11-3-5) in the NCAA Division III Championship second round. The Garnet pulled out a 4-3 win in the penalty kick shootout to earn the right to advance to next week's sectional round while Christopher Newport ends the season with a 14-2-5 overall record. 

The epic defensive struggle featured just eight shots on-goal in the contest as Christopher Newport put five on frame and Swarthmore registered three attempts on net. Led by senior Derek Cook, junior Daniel Hulett, and senior goalkeeper Justin Piercy playing all 110 minutes, the Captains defense registered the team's 11th shutout of the season. 

Statistically the finest defense in program history, Christopher Newport closed the year with a 0.54 goals-against average and an .872 save percentage. Both of those figures rank number one all-time as the Captains allowed just 12 goals in over 2014 minutes of action this season. 

In Sunday's second round matchup, the defense did all it could to propel the Captains into the next round but facing a stiff back line, the offense was unable to connect on a goal in regulation or overtime. Junior Will Collins challenged the Swarthmore goalkeeper Max Kral the most with five total shots and two on-goal. Early in the first overtime period, Collins directed a header toward the far post but his attempt trickled just wide of the goal. 

Offensive chances were limited on both ends but Piercy made a great read on the best chance for Swarthmore when Ben Lau hit the crossbar with a header in the second overtime. Lau also put a pair of shots on frame in the game that the Christopher Newport senior turned away. 

Facing a PK shootout, the Captains got on the board first when Cory Hogge delivered the opening blow. It appeared Christopher Newport took an early edge when Piercy saved the first shot by Lau, but the official ruled he jumped off the line too soon, affording Lau a second attempt. Piercy again got his hand on Lau's shot, but this time it ricocheted into the goal to even the score at 1-1. After both goalkeepers traded saves on the next shot, Swarthmore converted it's remaining three shots and CNU had one saved to allow the Garnet a 4-3 win in the shootout. 

The senior class led the Captains back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016 and made a pair of postseason showings in their career. Led by Cook, the CAC Defensive Player of the Year, the Captains will graduate seven seniors after tying for the second most wins in the last five years.