NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Christopher Newport senior midfielder Mason Field stayed hot with his seventh goal of the season and senior defender Jonathon Leiding added the gamewinner in the 80th minute as the Captains defeated Roanoke College, 2-1, on Wednesday night. Playing the majority of the game on a bright, hot day at Captains Field, Christopher Newport erased a first-half deficit with a come-from-behind win at home. 

The Captains outshot the Maroons by a final count of 25-2 including a 10-1 advantage in shots on-goal. Despite the decided advantage moving forward, Christopher Newport faced an early deficit when the Maroons scored just 13 minutes into the game. With one of the Captains' defenders out of the play after a 50-50 challenge sent him to the deck, the Roanoke attack took advantage with crisp passing across the field as Slate Danforth set up Girom Affolter for the go-ahead tally from 25 yards out. 

Trailing in a game for just the third time this season, the CNU offense was unrelenting in its challenge to get back into the game. Asher Kuzemka connected on a header off a corner kick from close range, but the Roanoke keeper was there for the save. Minutes later, the Captains had a flurry of shots from Leiding, Kyle Stenzel, and Drew McWhinney. Stenzel's attempt was cleared off the line by a defender, keeping CNU from tying the game in the first half. 

One of the best first-half chances for the Captains came in the 34th minute on a free kick from just outside the box. Elton Quintanilla blistered a hard shot low and on target toward the near post, but again the Maroons netminder made the diving save. 

Still down, 1-0, in the second half, the Maroons opened the door for the Captains when a red card was issued to provide CNU with a man-up situation for the final 31+ minutes of the game. Just five minutes after the player was sent off, the Captains found the equalizer. 

After a well-read interception by Mason Field in the middle of the field, he drove down the center before executing a perfect give-and-go with Barry Jones on the outside. Field slipped a pass out to his winger and sprinted into the middle of the box; on the return pass, the Captains' leading scorer stopped the ball, surveyed the goal and drilled a right-footed shot into the left side of the goal. 

Field now has a team-high seven goals to tie for the most by a player since current assistant coach Lincoln Kickbush poured in eight during the 2019 season. Five of his seven scores have either tied or won the match for Christopher Newport this season. 

The Captains continued to chip away at the Maroons defense, as Quintanilla had a pair of attempts and Jason LaViola ripped one on target with his left foot. The go-ahead score would not come until the 80th minute, though, after freshman Yazan Yaghmmour checked into the game. Yaghmmour, having just re-entered minutes earlier, was called on for a long throw in on the right side. The freshman unleashed a rainmaker into the box that was headed toward the goal by Jones; after the first carom, Leiding leaped and re-directed the ball into the left for the score. 

Jones snagged his second assist of the game and now leads the squad with four helpers this season. Yaghmmour snared his first career point with the long pass while Leiding added his first goal of the season. It stands as Leiding's fourth career gamewinner. 

From there, the Captains were able to take the air out of the ball and close out the comeback win, 2-1. Defensively, Jacob Dudley and Asher Kuzemka played the full 90 minutes on the back line for CNU while Colin Skwirut and Trevor Smith combined to lock down the defensive midfield spot. The defense allowed just two shots including only one on target in the game. 

Christopher Newport will return to action this Saturday, October 7 as they host Salisbury University for Senior Night. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 pm at Captains Field with live stats and a live video webcast available at CNUsports.com.