NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Another dominating performance defensively was paired with an offensive explosion for the first time in 2022 as the top-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team sailed to a 6-0 win over Methodist University (2-2-1) on a beautiful Sunday morning at Captains Field. Three goals in each half were headlined by a pair for both senior Sarah Smith and junior Natalie Swarm. 

The Captains improved to 4-0-1 on the season and extended the program record streak of consecutive games without a loss to 28. The run ties a 2001-2002 roll by Messiah College as the 16th longest streak in Division III history. The Captains also secured the team's third shutout in five games as goalkeepers Jaya Daniel and Abby Ochs each played a half to share the clean sheet. 

The offense did a nice job book-ending the game with two goals in the first ten minutes and two in the last. The Captains have now scored five goals this season in the final ten minutes of games. 

Christopher Newport's impressive passing game was on display throughout the contest including on a pair of corner kick goals in the first half. The first came just over four minutes into the game when junior Kenna McCarthy found senior defender Jill McDonald in the middle of the box for a textbook corner kick goal. Taking the free kick from the corner, McCarthy sailed a clinical pass into the area where McDonald elevated and directed the header into the center of the goal for what would hold up as her first career gamewinner.  

The passing showcase continued just minutes later when Methodist failed to clear out of their own zone on a throw-in. Nyah Savage reached the ball near the sideline and slotted a pretty pass toward the corner of the 18-yard box, finding Smith with no one to beat. The senior from Norfolk, Va. took one touch before beating the keeper from about 15 yards out, scoring a goal in her third consecutive game. 

The Captains' opportunities continued to mount with several offsides calls negating chances for CNU in the following minutes. Emily Talotta added a rip saved in the 15th minute and the third goal of the first half would come in the 17th, again off a corner kick. This time it would be Courtney Ennis taking the kick from the corner and the junior lifted an excellent in-swinger toward the back post. Waiting on the other end was Smith, who volleyed in the cross in a goal reminiscent of her national-championship clinching winner against TCNJ last December. 

For Ennis, it was the first career point for the junior defender, playing in just her second career game. She had an impressive showing, playing 59 minutes while putting two of her three shots on frame. One would be a near-goal in the first half when she took another corner kick from the same spot and slammed the back post on a would be gorgeous solo attempt that missed just fractions of an inch from the inside of the goal. For Smith, the Captains' leading scorer caps an impressive week that included four goals and an assist. 

While the Captains offense staked the defensive unit to a 3-0 lead after the first 45 minutes, the back line did an terrific job keeping Methodist out of their attacking zone while allowing just one shot that went wide. Kate Eissenberg and McDonald led the way in front of Daniel, while Jackie Stallard and Caroline Daviscame off the bench to help secure the shutout effort. 

In the second half, the CNU attack replicated it's three-goal showing from the first with five more Captains getting into the points column. First up, it was Emma Ricci setting up rookie Kyleigh Gough for a score in the 68th minute. Ricci made a nice run into the box on the right side before slipping a pass to Gough in the middle where the freshman was able to one-touch it home for the score. 

Late in the game, Natalie Swarm made an impact with two goals of her own in the span of just 46 seconds. Swarm became just the second player in program history to score consecutive goals in under a minute, tying Riley Cook for second on the list for the speediest back-to-back goals in program lore. The first came off a nice cross by Molly Seventko where Swarm was able to finish on the open net. On the team's next run down the field, Seventko again started the play with a nice pass into the middle of the box for Abby Pogreba. Pogreba's attempt was turned away by the Methodist goalkeeper, but the rebound found Swarm open for the second chance goal and she paid it off by tickling the twine. 

Earlier in the second half, Molly Beegle was robbed on three consecutive shots for the Captains as the senior forward crashed the first off the crossbar, had the second rip blocked by a recovering defender, and a third from close distance stopped by a spectacular save from Carolina Simpkins, the Methodist goalkeeper. Sarah Smith's hat trick was denied by a team save and Maddie Blake added a shot that was saved by a defender as well. 

The unrelenting attack for the Captains finished with a 28-4 advantage in total shots including a 20-2 edge in shots on-goal. 

Christopher Newport will return to action next weekend as they travel to Pennsylvania for a pair of contests. The Captains take on Swarthmore College first, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 17. CNU will then travel to Widener University for a 1:00 pm kickoff on Sunday.