NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- An exciting second half was highlighted by a three-point performance from rookie Asher Kuzemka as the 11th-ranked Christopher Newport men's soccer team defeated Moravian, 2-1, on a sizzling Saturday afternoon in the Steve Shaw Classic finale. Kuzemka scored the game-winning goal and added an assist on the game's first goal just minutes earlier to stake the Captains to a two-goal lead. After the Greyhounds (0-2-0) cut the lead in half, fifth-year senior goalkeeper Ethan Larson made a spectacular game-saving stop in the final minute to secure the victory. 

The Captains improve to 2-0-0 in the opening weekend with an impressive show of depth early in the year. CNU scored three goals, all off the bench, and 25 different Captains saw action in the two matches. 

In Saturday's matchup against Moravian, Christopher Newport nearly took a 1-0 lead just moments off the opening whistle. Newcomer Ryan Machado-Jones was loose just 22 seconds into the game when he ripped a rocket shot just wide right of the frame. The early burst prefaced a 14-shot first half for the aggressive Captains offense, but neither team was able to get on the board in the first 45 minutes. 

The push forward continued early in the second half when the Captains pressured the Moravian goalkeeper with three shots in the first eight minutes of the period. In the 52nd minute, Chris Schram, Brendan Todd, and Machado-Jones connected on a beaut of a combination play that set Machado-Jones free in the box for a shot. His attempt was blocked but ricocheted right to Schram, who then lifted a nice attempt wide. Just minutes later, Owen Burnett got a header on frame and forced the Greyhounds keeper to make a save. 

Early in the second half, Larson was challenged for the first time in his career as a goalkeeper. After spending four years as a member of the Captains' midfield, the Hampton, Va. native took over between the pipes this season and earned his first career save in the 59th minute when Alec Aloia took a shot from outside the box.

The offense finally broke through in the 75th minute after a goal kick by Moravian was settled by the Captains' midfield. A pass outside to Kuzemka allowed him to shuffle a short connection to Lincoln Kickbush down the right side of the field. As the senior closed in on a Greyhounds defender, he lofted a long shot toward the goal -- it sailed over the Moravian keeper and hammered off the left post and into the goal for the tally, triggering a big celebration by the fifth-year star. Kickbush picked up his tenth career goal with the long strike while Kuzemka put himself in the scoring column for the first time in his young career. 

The rookie would not be stopped there, as he added a pivotal twine-tickler himself just two minutes later. After a foul by the Greyhounds in the 77th minute, Machado-Jones took the free kick from just outside the box on the left side. The Division I transfer bent a gorgeous low ball into the box that bounded through a big scrum of players before Kuzemka came crashing through on the back post for the score. 

The second goal would prove imperative and held up as the game-winner after Moravian got on the board in the 83rd minute on a header off a corner kick. Aloia took the corner and Ben Scary headed home the goal for the Greyhounds. 

With the match down to a one-goal deficit, Moravian sent everything forward in the final minutes. CNU nearly took advantage with a pair of open looks from LB Sutton and Sam Dickinson in the box. Mason Field also challenged Andrew Remias, the Greyhounds keeper, with a short shot with his left foot late in the game. It was Moravian with the best chance late, though, when Donald Gibbs settled a loose ball on the left side with the clock ticking under 30 seconds remaining. Gibbs blistered a howitzer on line for the Captains' goal, but Larson read the shot perfect, took one step to his left and sold out with a fully-extended diving stop. The Moravian shot trickled off his fingertips just wide of the right post and Larson saved the win, his second in as many days. 

The Captains held a decided 20-6 advantage in total shots with a 7-4 edge in shots on-goal. 

Christopher Newport will continue a seven-match homestand to start the year with two games next weekend. The first, against Clarkson University, will be played at Captains Field at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 10. The second game, against Pfeiffer University, will be played at Captains Turf Field at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 11.