NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Christopher Newport senior Riley Cook factored into all three goals including her 27th career game-winning goal as she led the fourth-ranked CNU women's soccer team to a 3-1 win over Sewanee (6-2-1) on Thursday afternoon. With two goals and an assist, Cook logged her eighth career game with at least five points scored and the Captains matched the program record for consecutive wins to start a season with an 8-0-0 run to open 2021. 

Christopher Newport handed the Tigers just their second loss of the season while remaining perfect themselves. Coming ino Thursday's regional showdown, Sewanee had allowed just three goals during the season; with two goals in the first half and one more in the second, the Captains doubled that number. 

As a team, the Captains outshot Sewanee, 28-2, including a 9-1 advantage in shots on-goal. Cook ripped a game-high nine shots with four on-frame and Sarah Smith added six at the top of the CNU attack. 

From the outset, the Captains applied pressure to the Sewanee defense, smacking five shot attempts in the first 15 minutes. Smith's first shot slid wide right and Cook whipped one off the crossbar. Moments later, defender Nyah Savage let loose a howitzer from outside the 18 that just sailed high. 

With chances multiplying it was in the 15th minute that the CNU attack finally tickled the twine when Cook worked for a shot near the top of the box on the right side. Emily Talotta started the play by saving a ball from going out on the goal line. She played a ball into the box that bounced around until a Sewanee defender settled and attempted to clear, but Jessica Zimmermann raced through the ball and got a touch for Riley Cook. With the ball at her feet, Cook took on three Tigers defenders, playing to her right at the top of the box. The erudite veteran was patient, touched to the outside and then blistered a hard right-footed shot into the left side of the goal. 

The Captains were relentless on attack, peppering the Sewanee goalkeepers with attempts throughout the contest. The eventual game-winning goal would come in the 32nd minute when Molly Beegle and Cook pieced together a beautiful give-and-go goal on the left side of the field. Cook fed Beegle at the top of the box and raced by her defender for the pass back; Beegle played a perfect ball for Cook and the Captains' all-time leading scorer hammered home her second goal of the game off the bottom of the crossbar. 

The goal would hold up as Cook's 27th career winner, continuing to shatter the Captains' and conference record for game-winning strikes. 

Sewanee cut the lead in half in the final two minutes of the first half on a corner kick goal by Bea Richardson. The ball was played in by Kiera Giacomini and was volleyed in by Richardson in the middle of the penalty area. 

Adding an insurance goal in the 65th minute, Cook was facilitator this time as her and Beegle switched roles for the final goal of the match. On a corner kick, Cook sent in a cross that got through the keeper's hand and off of Beegle's body for the score. Her third goal of the season, Beegle has now scored on three of her 11 total shots for a .273 shot percentage. 

Christopher Newport will return to Captains Field on Sunday, October 3 as they play host to cross-water rival Virginia Wesleyan University at 7:00 pm.