NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Erasing a program record that has stood for 15 years, the top-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team made history on Wednesday evening as they shutout 17th-ranked Swarthmore College (10-1-2), 1-0. The Captains set a program record for consecutive shutout minutes, running their scoreless streak to over 659 minutes including seven straight clean sheets.

For the second time this season, the nationally-ranked Captains hosted an undefeated top-20 program and handed their opponent the first loss of their season. CNU used an early second half penalty kick goal to slip past Swarthmore and improve to 13-0-1 on the season. 

Despite playing without starting defender Jackie Stallard for the first time this season, the Captains slotted in rookie Bella DiTommaso and the back line was as sturdy as ever with Reanna Slater and Nyah Savage in front of rookie goalkeeper Amy Sidaway. Sophomore Kyleigh Gough also slid back in the second half to help Christopher Newport secure the team's 12th shutout in 14 games this season. The record-breaking run stands at 659:18, officially, setting the program mark that was set at 602:20 by the 2008 version of the Captains. 

Swarthmore challenged the Captains with four shots on-goal in the first 20 minutes of action, but Sidaway stoned three and Ellie Cox turned away the last with a team save on the line. The defense made several big plays while facing one of the most dangerous offenses in the country as the Swarthmore attack was well-connected early in the contest. Midway through the first half, the Garnet made a run into the box on the right side, but Slater made a pair of gritty defensive stops on back-to-back shot attempts. The junior center back stepped in front of the first shot and then took the brunt of a blast on the second attempt. Sacrificing her body eliminated the Garnet threat as the ball trickled away out of the box. 

On the other end, the Captains earned a penalty kick late in the half when Natalie Swarm touched a pass into the box and had a footrace with the keeper to the ball. The Garnet netminder went to the ground and took out Swarm, forcing a whistle from the official and a penalty kick for CNU. The goalkeeper made up for her mistake, though, by saving the Captains attempt from the spot. 

Sarah Smith had a pair of shots blocked from outside the box and Hanna Heaton smashed a long-range attempt on frame to force a save. CNU took control near the end of the half, ripping the final seven shots of the half including two on target by Heaton and one by Smith. 

The momentum carried into the second half as Christopher Newport took the first nine shots from the field after halftime, giving them an impressive 16 unanswered attempts. Just under four minutes into the second stanza another Swarthmore foul in the box gave the Captains another penalty kick attempt. Nyah Savage and Corinne Kulik connected on a beautiful give-and-go down the right side as Savage got the pass back driving into the top of the box; the Garnet defender made contact and sent the CNU senior defender sprawling for the foul in the box. On the ensuing penalty, sophomore Kyleigh Gough stepped in and delivered her third game-winning goal of the season and second penalty kick strike. 

Kulik nearly netted another just minutes later when she smashed a shot off the keeper that caromed up and over her head, but the ball ricocheted off the crossbar and back into the field of play. She added a second shot on-goal and then a third that was blocked by a defender in the span of just under three minutes. The barrage kept coming as Christopher Newport pressured the Swarthmore defense, but could not find the back of the net again. 

The Garnet switched formations to try and find the equalizer, sending more attacking players forward, but the Captains' defense adjusted and limited chances for the visiting team. In the middle portion of the second half, Swarthmore took five shots but managed only two on frame; Sidaway saved both from long range to continue the shutout streak. 

CNU outshot the Garnet, 25-12, including a 10-6 edge in shots on-frame. Kulik and Heaton each led the way with four shots on-target while Sarah Smith had a team-high seven total attempts. 

Christopher Newport will host Senior Night on Saturday against Roanoke College at 5:00 p.m. The penultimate game of the regular season will be the final home game of the regular season before CNU closes the year at Salisbury next week.