GLASSBORO, N.J. -- Christopher Newport senior Will Collins scored a pair of first-half goals to lead the nationally-ranked Captains men's soccer team into the NCAA Tournament Second Round with a 3-0 win over Eastern Connecticut State (13-7-0) on a cold Saturday evening in New Jersey. Despite a crisp fall evening cooling into the 40's, Collins heated up for the Captains as they improved to 11-4-2 overall this season. 

Making the team's second straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament under head coach Justin Chezem, the 24th-ranked Captains advanced to the second round in the postseason event for the fourth straight and ninth time in program history. CNU will return to action on Sunday to take on host Rowan University with a trip to the Round of 16 on the line. 

In a fast-paced open to the match, the Captains broke through first on a beautiful goal that spanned the length of the field. Logan Brennan ripped a shot on frame for the Warriors but CNU's sophomore goalkeeper Gabe Barros smothered the try from outside the box. After collecting the ball, he scooted out to the top of the box before sending an absolutely perfect ball up the middle of the field. His long pass bounced once and Collins read the angle perfectly as it soared over the heads of the back line and set the senior forward loose onsides for a one-on-one chance with the keeper. Collins made good on the goalkeeper assist to put the Captains ahead, 1-0. 

The goal came just under seven minutes into the game and would hold up as the game-winning strike for the Captains. It was the second winner of the season for Collins and the fourth of his career. Barros becomes the first goalkeeper in program history to earn an assist in NCAA Tournament play after logging his first career point. 

CNU would tack on a second goal in the 22nd minute when Brendan Todd slipped a pass across the box for Collins, who again read the ball perfectly and was all alone for the close range shot. The helper was the first of the season for Todd and the second of his career. 

Barros was relatively unchallenged the rest of the match in goal, facing just three more shots on frame by the Warriors. The CNU defense, led by 90-minute efforts from Davis Pillow, Daniel Hulett, and Jacob Dudley, held their first round opponent to just four shots on target. Rookie Ryan Kiely and C2C Tournament MVP Jonathon Leiding split the rest of the time on the back line as CNU earned its third consecutive NCAA Tournament shutout dating back to the 2019 version of the event. 

Barros joins Martin Zelada, Matt Tengs, Justin Wolfe, Sam Lesko, and Justin Piercy in a select group of Captains netminders to earn an NCAA Tournament shutout. 

In the game, the Captains outshot Eastern Connecticut State by a final count of 13-7 including six shots on frame. Mason Field rounded out the scoring for the Captains when the rookie stepped up to the spot and drilled a penalty kick goal in the 85th minute for the final score, 3-0. 

Christopher Newport will now return to action on Sunday, November 14 as they take on host Rowan University (13-3-2) after the Profs shut out Mount Saint Vincent, 2-0, in Saturday's opening round. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 pm at the Rowan Soccer Complex with live stats and live video available.