NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Continuing it's dominance on Captains Field with a season-opening victory on the home pitch, the 21st-ranked Christopher Newport men's soccer team snared a 2-1 win over Berry College (0-1-0) on Friday night in the second game of the 2023 Steve Shaw Classic. Scoring his first career goal in his first career start, Luke Peri helped key the team to victory while Mason Field's second-half PK stood up as the winner. 

The Captains (1-0-0) have dropped just two games in the last 31 matchups at home, dating back to the 2018 season. It was the tenth consecutive win during the home opener; in fact, the CNU Men's Soccer team has not lost a home opener since 2005, protecting Captains Field to the tune of a 16-0-1 record in that span. 

Though the final score hinted at a closer matchup with a final tally of 2-1, the nationally-ranked Captains held serve at home with a definitive defensive statement by holding Berry to just a single shot in the game. That attempt came from the spot on a second-half penalty kick, meaning the CNU back line did not allow a single shot to the Vikings in the run of play all night. Veterans Jacob Dudley, Jonathon Leiding, Kyle Stenzel, and Ryan Kiely did the lion's share of the work stifling their opponents, but rookies Yazan Yaghmmour and Colin Skwirut were pivotal cogs in the nearly clean sheet as well. 

Sophomore Hayden Dewey secured the win in goal in his first career start, playing full time behind the dominant defensive wall. 

On the other end of the field, Christopher Newport ripped 15 total shots in the game, peppering the Berry back line with chances throughout the contest. Rookie Manzi Siibo kicked off his career with a bang in the 20th minute when he turned to find his sophomore forward, Luke Peri, wide open on the right side just outside of the box. The picture-perfect pass set Peri free into the scoring area and with one touch back toward the inside, the second-year attacker ripped a low liner into the back of the net to light up the scoreboard for the first time in 2023. 

Peri was playing in just his eighth career game and making his first career start. Siibo snagged his first career assist with the helper and the Captains took a 1-0 lead. After Berry drew even with a penalty kick goal early in the second half, the Captains went back to work. Siibo put a shot on goal and Leiding smashed one off the wall on a free kick in the 54th minute. 

In the 63rd minute, veteran winger Mason Field was dropped to the ground in the box and the referee whistle a penalty kick for the Captains. Field took the honors and delivered the game-winning goal, securing the first of his career. 

In the final 25 minutes, the Captains kept the pressure up, including a near-highlight real volley from Jason LaViola and a pretty header just wide by Carson Grove. LaViola added a header late in the game to finish with a team-high three shots, matching Siibo and Field in the contest. 

Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. when they take on the University of Lynchburg (1-0-0), which secured a 2-0 win over Hardin-Simmons in the Steve Shaw Classic opener. Live stats and a live video webcast will be available at CNUsports.com.