COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The third-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team improved to 6-0-0 with a 1-0 win at Bernlohr Stadium on Friday night, taking down the host Capital University Comets (2-2-1) after another dominating performance statistically. Rookie Alex Devers connected on the game-winning goal, her third of the season, in the 76th minute of action, but the match was won behind CNU's suffocating defense and spectacularly skilled possession game in the midfield. 

For 75 minutes, the Captains attack pestered the Comets back line but continued to come up empty. That is, until Sarah Smith uncorked a beautiful left-footed shot that forced the Capital keeper to make a diving save off the post. The shot was the last of over 20 attempts that CNU ripped against the bend-but-not-break defense before moments later, Devers broke through. Less than a minute after Smith chipped the armor, the Captains got an excellent combination of passes from Kate Eissenberg and Emma Ricci to Devers near the top of the box. The rookie then surged to the middle with the goal on her right side, caught enough of a window and unleashed an absolute rocket that tucked just inside the right post for the score. 

The tally held up as the lone score in the contest as Devers secured her third career game-winning goal in her first six games. Ricci added an assist in her second straight game while the goal started out of a rebuild from the back line, which was as stout as ever on Friday night. Reanna Slater delivered the pass to Eissenberg to start the action and the sophomore dribbled 15 yards before delivering a pinpoint pass toward the sideline for Ricci. Her one touch pass to Devers set up the score. 

The Captains finished the game with 27 total attempts, including nine on-target, led by five total shots from Corinne Kulik and three each for Smith, Devers, and Ellie Cox.

While the goal was class, the possession game was the difference in the match. With Cox at the helm, the Captains rarely allowd the Capital attack beyond midfield, let alone into their attacking third of the field. Cox and Kyleigh Gough expertly patrolled the middle of pitch with a steady rotation of help on the outside. The back line, headed by Slater, Nyah Savage, and Jackie Stallard, pitched a near perfect game by allowing only two shots in the game with none on frame. The lone corner kick surrendered by the CNU defense was aptly turned away by rookie goalkeeper Amy Sidaway before anything could materialize. 

Early in the contest, the Captains set the tone. On one of her first touches since returning from a game one injury, fifth-year All-American Sarah Smith received a pass from Ricci and quickly turned to slide a perfect connection up to Kulik. The senior forward saw her attempt sail high, but the early option was a sign of things to come. 

A few minutes later, Cox dispossessed the Capital attack and then went to work. The Captains' veteran midfielder knifed through three Comets on the right side before finding enough space to rip a bullet on frame. Moments later, Kulik sent a cross into the box from the left corner that was met by the head of Devers for another powerful attempt near the frame. Her shot whistled just high and the Captains were kept off the board again. 

As the first half continued, rookie Bella Ventimiglia just missed right off a deflection to set up a corner kick for the Captains. On the ensuing kick, a beautiful cross into the middle of the box was redirected away from the keeper by Lexi Hazelgrove to the left side. The ball was cleared off the line by a defender, denying CNU again on a shot that looked destined for the goal. 

The opportunities continued to mount as the Capital defense took all the Captains could muster. Madie Vincent was the next to try, receiving a pass from Cox to her spot on the left side of the field. With a one-on-one matchup, Vincent used a top-touch hesitation on the ball that left her defender in her wake and gave her a chance at a right-footed laser. The Captains' transfer blistered a line drive headed for the upper 90 on the left side, but the Comets keeper made a highlight-reel save to keep the Captains' scoreless in the first half. 

The second half featured the best chance for the home team in the early going as the Comets took advantage of a counter attack just seven and a half minutes into the stanza. Lexi Snider got loose down the left side, but her shot sailed wide as Sidaway close out the angle and denied the first goal to Capital. From there, it was all CNU again, including shots blocked from Alex Dalakis, Katy Bronski, Kulik, Cox, and Smith in the middle portion of the half. Then came Smith's near miss and Devers' go-ahead score. 

The Captains recorded their fifth consecutive shutout and improved the team's shutout streak to 458:21 to threaten the top-five runs all-time at CNU. 

Christopher Newport will look to continue it's winning ways on Sunday afternoon as they play Ohio Northern University in a neutral site matchup on the same field. The Captains and Polar Bears will face off at 1:00 p.m. with live stats and video provided by Capital University.