NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Veterans and newcomers alike contributed to a 2-0 shutout victory in the 2021 Steve Shaw Classic on Saturday afternoon as the 22nd-ranked Christopher Newport men's soccer team cruised to a 2-0 win over Covenant College (0-2-1) in the team's season opener. Three rookies picked up assists while a pair of seniors scored for the Captains (1-0-0) in the shutout win.
The gamewinning goal came off the head of senior forward
Lincoln Kickbush in the 31st minute of play. After a foul was called about 25 yards out, freshman
Jason LaViola wasted no time picking up his first career point with a beautiful cross into the box. Taking his first career set piece, LaViola centered a pass into the box where Kickbush elevated and hammered home a header for the first goal of the match.
The tally would hold up as the winning strike as Kickbush snagged his ninth career goal and third career winner. The leading scorer for the 2019 Captains wasted little time getting his senior season started with a beaut of a goal in the first half.
As time waned in the first half, an insurance tally would beat the buzzer headed into the intermission. A foul was whistled with about nine seconds left in the frame and the clock was stopped by the official with four seconds showing. Facing another set piece from around the same location on the field, rookies
Trevor Smith and
Ryan Kiely set up the second goal off the head of
Davis Pillow. Another picture-perfect pass into the box came from Smith this time as Kiely got his head to it first. His flick went toward the middle of the box for Pillow who, with his back to the goal, slipped in a header shot of his own as time expired.
CNU outshot Covenant, 7-0, in the first half but managed just the one attempt on frame. The offense dominated possession throughout as senior
Cole Irvin was untested in goal for the Captains.
In the second half, neither team managed much in terms of quality offensive chances and the Captains defense held on for the shutout. Irvin made one save before giving way to rookie Tomi Prizzia for the final 11 minutes of action. The two combined for the clean sheet with one save apiece.
On Sunday, the Captains will return to action against Gettysburg College, who captured a 6-2 victory over Greensboro in the opener of the Steve Shaw Classic. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 pm after Greensboro takes on the University of Lynchburg at 1:00 pm.
