NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The nationally-ranked Christopher Newport men's soccer team broke through with a goal in the 82nd minute of the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship Opening Round matchup against Rosemont College, propelling the team into a second-round bout on Sunday afternoon against Catholic University. The Captains held on for a 1-0 win against the Ravens (10-3-5) and improves to 13-3-2 overall this season. 

Senior Chris Schram delivered the momentous blow with less than nine minutes remaining in regulation, giving the Captains at least one win in each of their last five NCAA Tournament appearances. After a foul call near the Rosemont penalty area, the defender faced a four-man wall on the left side of the box. Schram waited for the whistle and then splintered the wall with a bender bouncing into the left side of the goal from about 20 yards out. 

His goal sent the Captains' bench into a frenzy as the offense had been turned away by the Rosemont goalkeeper on their previous 11 shots on goal, including several highlight-reel diving saves. CNU outshot the Ravens 28-8 including a decisive edge in shots on goal, 12-4, but Brady Hochman was a difference maker for Rosemont, keeping his squad in the contest for the full 90 minutes with 11 saves. 

In the other goal, Christopher Newport goalkeeper Ethan Larson also stepped up in huge moments with four saves including a pivotal, momentum-shifting stop in the 70th minute when Santi Possu was loose in the box. The leading scorer for Rosemont cut back to the middle and unleashed a bullet on frame from about eight yards out but Larson dropped to the ground and turned away the best scoring chance of the match for the Ravens. On the ensuing corner kick, Rosemont got a header on frame but again Larson picked up the save. 

It was just 12 minutes later when Schram stepped up to the set piece and scored for the Captains. 

CNU pressured Hochman time and time again before finally getting the winner in the 82nd minute. With about 28 minutes left, Elton Quintanilla slipped a through pass to Barry Jones on the right side. The rookie worked around for a shot from point blank range and whipped a line drive off the keeper out of bounds. Ryan Machado-Jones also had a one-on-one opportunity against the keeper in the first half, but his shot was stoned by Hochman as well. 

While the offense controlled most of the action, Schram was also a part of another strong performance by the back line. Jonathon Leiding and Jonah Fitz joined Schram with complete game efforts while Ryan Kiely played 74 minutes and Jacob Dudley the remaining 16. Larson made four saves in net to earn his seventh shutout of the season and move into the top-ten all-time, tying Martin Zelada in 2001. 

As a defense, the Captains have now recorded 11 shutouts and have tied for the second most in a single season in program history. The 2022 campaign matches the 1985, 1986, 2011, and 2019 seasons with 11 clean sheets and trails only the 2010 mark of 12 setting the record. 

In the 13th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history, the Captains have now won at least one game in ten of them. CNU has advanced to the second round in five straight and ten of the last 12 showings. 

On Sunday, Christopher Newport will take on Catholic University, who earned a 2-0 win over Lynchburg in the opening round, at 3:00 p.m. Live stats and a live video webcast will be available for all the action at CNUsports.com.