NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In a hotly contested duel between Gettysburg College (1-0-1) and the 22nd-ranked Christopher Newport men's soccer team in the 2021 Steve Shaw Classic finale, the Captains (1-0-1) were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw. Despite outshooting the Bullets, 17-7, Christopher Newport needed an equalizer in the 72nd minute to force overtime and then could not capitalize on big chances late to score the winner. 

The early momentum favored the home team as a pair of offsides calls negated good runs in the first seven minutes before senior Tanner Dail finally was loose for a hard shot in the 15th minute. His attempt was turned away by Gettysburg keeper Kevin Muhic, but the Captains continued to control possession. 

In the 23rd minute, however, Gettysburg flipped the script with just their second attempt on frame finding the back fo the net. On a long throw-in by Matt Tennant, the Bullets took a 1-0 lead when Connor Fife headed home the first goal of the match. 

CNU continued to pressure Muhic throughout the first half as Jonathon Leiding, Will Collins, and Owen Burnett each missed narrow chances. Burnett's shot looked perfect as it bent toward the back post but the home team's own equipment betrayed the junior forward as the ball glanced back into the field of play.

Four more attempts came from the Captains' attack before the next Gettysburg shot as Lincoln Kickbush and Jason LaViola got involved around two more Burnett rips. Despite the constant pressure, CNU faced a 1-0 deficit at the break. 

The lead for the Bullets held until the 72nd minute when transfer midfielder Chris Schram delivered his first career goal for the Captains. After a throw-in just in front of the Captains bench, Burnett and Kobe Smith connected on a beautiful touch pass near the sideline into the corner. On his first touch, Burnett sent a cross into the box where Schram reached first and powered home a score off the keepers hands into the right side of the goal. 

Jonathon Leiding made a terrific defensive play to potentially save the match with just over 17 minutes remaining. A ricochet wound up giving a Gettysburg player a breakaway and Leiding  sprinted back and to make an exceptional tackle and stop the potential disaster. With Pillow, Leiding played the entire match on the back line holding the potent Gettysburg attack to just one goal on three shots on-frame.

In the extra periods, it was CNU throughout continuing to control the attack. Kobe Smith had a pair of big chances, including a shot that slipped just wide right of the net. Moments later, Ethan Larson powered a header just inches over the crossbar on a would-be winner. CNU took three shots in overtime and held Gettysburg to just one attempt. 

The first draw of the season extends the Captains' unbeaten streak to nine games dating back to the 2019 season. 

Christopher Newport will now hit the road for the remainder of September as their next home game is not scheduled until October 2. Next up, CNU will head to the University of Lynchburg for a 4:00 pm kickoff against the Hornets on September 10.