SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- Playing against the University of California Santa Cruz Banana Slugs for the first time in program history, the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team scored the game-winning goal in the first half and held on for a 1-0 victory on Friday afternoon. The No. 4 Captains improved to 6-0-0 for just the second time in program history on the 26th career game-winning strike from all-time leading scorer Riley Cook. 

The Banana Slugs joined the Captains' conference, now known as the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference, ahead of the 2021 campaign and will be one of five "new" teams participating in the conference championship this year. CNU made the trek across country for the matchup, designated a non-conference game, and picked up the program's first ever victory in the state of California. 

Christopher Newport has opened the year undefeated through the first six games to trail only the 2000 version of the Captains with a better start to the season. In 2000, CNU opened the year with a 8-0-0 start before going on to finish 12-4-1 under head coach Melissa Mitchell. 

On Friday, the recipe for CNU's success came from Riley Cook in the 26th minute of action. Emily Talotta started the action right in front of the benches as she turned in toward the middle of the field. Her cross bounced once in the center of the field where rookie Emma Ricci elevated against a defender and flicked a header pass right to the feet of Cook. The senior forward took one touch to her right before spinning and firing a low liner into the left side of the goal. 

The goal was Cook's 69th career tally and 26th winner. The last time Cook won a 1-0 game for Christopher Newport came against the University of Lynchburg in the 2018 NCAA National Quarterfinals, lifting the Captains to the program's first ever final four appearance. Ricci, a sophomore playing in her first season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, picked up her second assist in her first five games. 

Defensively, the Captains allowed just two shots on-goal in the match, coming in the first half. After Cook broke through with the goal, CNU locked down as the back line held the home team without a shot in the second half. Christopher Newport held a 17-6 advantage in the shot column, including an 8-0 edge after halftime. 

With the shutout, Haley Eiser ties Meghan Gumbs for third all-time in career clean sheets with her 21st. She also took over sole possession of second on the career wins list as she collected her 38th career victory. Helping secure the shutout were Jill McDonald and Sarah Rhiel, playing the full 90 minutes, while Nyah Savage and Re Slater played the bulk of the match on the back line as well. 

Cook led the team's offensive opportunities with six shots, three on-goal, while Sarah Smith added four shots and tested UC Santa Cruz keeper Alyssa Diaz Tucker once. 

Christopher Newport will return to action on the same field Saturday, taking on California Lutheran University (5-2-1) in a neutral site matchup at 2:00 pm (5:00 EST). The Regals have won four straight coming into Saturday's head-to-head bout.