NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- It was a record-breaking night at Captains Field on Saturday evening as the third-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team opened Capital Athletic Conference play with a 5-1 win over York College of Pennsylvania. Junior Riley Cook scored four of the five goals, the first of which propelled the Captains' leader into sole possessoin of the career points scored record, passing former leader Victoria Perry. 

The moment Riley Cook became the all-time leading scorer in Christopher Newport women's soccer history was captured by University photographer Benjamin Leistensnider and accompanies this recap above. It would be the first of four goals scored by Cook, which ties the Captains record for goals scored in a game with Alison Burr-Miller (vs. Ferrum on September 30, 2003) and Hillary Carney (vs. Averett on October 22, 2006). 

The record-breaking goal was coincidentally her 50th career scoring tally as she becomes the first Captain to reach the milestone mark. Cook set the program scoring record in just her 51st career game and would go on to score three more goals to become just the fourth player in program history to notch three hat tricks in her career. Most impressively, she has established a new standard for career points with nine regular season games remaining in just her third season at Christopher Newport. 

The historical play came in the 21st minute of action on a familiar play in the 2019 season. Sophomore Emily Talotta delivered a picture-perfect pass in the middle of the box after driving by her defender on the left side; Cook slammed the one-timer by the keeper and tumbled to the ground knowing she would rise the new record holder. 

The joy of the moment would not last long, though, as the Spartans drew even just over two minutes later on a broken play from the Captains defense. Rori Englert managed to wrestle the ball away from the last defender and had a one-on-one breakaway with the keeper to tie the game at one goal apiece. 

Cook would not be denied her moment, though, and picked up the eventual game-winning goal just another two minutes of game time later. Maxine Borris earned the assist on Cook's 11th goal of the season when she delivered a hard cross into the box from the right side. The Mechanicsville, Va. native headed a shot into the right side of the goal for her second of the match. 

Christopher Newport would carry the 2-1 lead into halftime with a 14-2 advantage in total shots. The flood gates would open against the Spartan with three more goals in the second half as the final disparity in shots would be 28-3 in favor of the home team. 

Cook completed the hat trick in the 55th minute with a gorgeous bender from the top of the box. Talotta threw the ball in to Cook at the corner of the box and after one touch, she hit a laser into the right side of the goal. 

Finally, Cook would tie the single game record for points in a match, with eight, when she converted on her fourth goal of the game. Lulu Manley started the play with a long pass to midfield for Carson Pokorny; the senior then smashed a long pass toward Cook over the defense and the junior scorer chipped the goalkeeper to wrap up her day with four goals on nine total shots. 

With her fourth goal, Cook now has 53 in her career to become the most prolific goal scorer in Christopher Newport soccer history, men's or women's. Cook passed Jalon Brown's record of 52 career goals set from 2011-14 after establishing a new women's record last week. 

While the headlining performance was clearly Cook, the Captains got another goal in the 74th minute with her resting comfortably on the sidelines. Sophomore Abby Harrigan nearly scored when she blistered a line drive off the right post that ricocheted right to the foot of senior Hailey Shaw. Shaw did not falter on the follow and ripped a hard shot into the back of the net for the final score of the evening. 

After the 5-1 win on Saturday, the Captains improve to 8-0-2 overall with a 1-0-0 start to CAC action. Christopher Newport has now won 19 straight conference games and are unbeaten in 34 straight (33-0-1) since the first CAC game of 2015. The Spartans fall to 3-7-0, 0-1-0 in the loss. 

The Captains will host Southern Virginia University in conference play on Wednesday, October 2 at 6:00 pm in their next contest. Live stats and video will be available from Captains Field at kickoff. 

Video Highlights: