NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The nationally-ranked Christopher Newport men's soccer team remained unbeaten with a 3-1 victory over the Marymount Saints (0-2-1) on Sunday morning, capturing a third straight win to start the season. Three different Captains scored in the game including the second gamewinner of the year for senior Mason Field and the first career goal by rookie Drew McWhinney. 

CNU found the back of the net five times in the game but a pair of beautiful goals by forward Luke Peri were whistled off due to offsides. Trevor Smith got the Captains on the board first with a penalty kick goal in the first half and the Saints answered with a set piece goal less than a minute later. In the second half, CNU re-took the lead and then added an insurance tally before cruising to the 3-1 win. 

A physical matchup between the two programs leaned heavily in the Captains favor early on as the action stayed primarily in the attacking half for CNU, but the Marymount defense was adept at drawing CNU offsides including thrice in the first 21 minutes. In the first half, CNU was called for being ahead of the defense six times as the Saints continued to play high on the field. 

CNU managed to get on the board first in the 31st minute when a Saints player committed a foul in the box on a cross in by the Captains attack. Stepping up to the spot for his first attempt this season, Trevor Smith delivered and put the Captains ahead, 1-0, with his second career goal. The lead would only last 42 seconds though, as another foul call gave the Saints their best chance of the first half from about 25 yards out. Axel Gonzalez took the free kick and bounced in a right-footed in-swinger just beyond the diving hands of CNU goalkeeper Hayden Dewey. 

With the score knotted at 1-1, the Captains remained the aggressors through the start of the second half. Matt Liss and Mason Field both had shots turned away by the Marymount goalkeeper in the first 10 minutes of action, but the duo would not be denied on a combination in the 60th minute. Jonathon Leiding started the play in the corner by passing back to Liss, who delivered picture-perfect one-touch cross into the box for Field, who volleyed in a shot to the left side for the score. 

The goal would hold up as the second gamewinner of the season for Field in the first three games of action. He has now scored in all three games so far this year while Liss and Leiding recorded their first points of the 2023 season. 

It would not take long for CNU to double its lead as they converted on another excellent combination just over four minutes later. After earning a corner kick, rookie Mike Hackworth played a short ball to Barry Jones outside of the corner of the box. Jones then lofted a pass into the box where freshman Drew McWhinney elevated and powered home a header or the third CNU goal of the contest. 

In addition to the pair of Peri's non-goals, the Captains had a number of opportunities narrowly missed in the game. In the 71st minute, Leiding smashed a low liner that looked destined for the far post, but it whistled just wide left. Caleb Jones also had a late attempt denied by the Marymount keeper from inside the box. 

On the other end, Dewey was strong in net for the Captains after allowing the first-half goal. He made four saves, including a snag on a laser hit from just over 10 yards away on a breakaway down the left side. The sophomore netminder is now 3-0-0 to start his career. 

CNU took 13 shots in the game, putting seven on frame. McWinney and Field tied for the team high with a pair while Asher Kuzemka also ripped a couple. 

The Captains will return to action next weekend with a pair of night games on Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, September 17. First, CNU will take on N.C. Wesleyan at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday before hosting a 6:00 pm kickoff on Sunday against William Peace.