COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Finding themselves playing behind for the first time this season, the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team was unfazed, scoring twice in the second half to capture a 2-1 win over Ohio Northern University on Sunday afternoon. Sophomore midfielder Molly Seventko assisted on the game-tying goal and put away the game-winning goal in the 89th minute of action to lead Captains to a seventh-straight win to start the season. 

CNU improves to 7-0-0 for just the third time in program history, matching the 2000 and 2021 seasons through the first seven games of the season. The win also extends the Captains' unbeaten streak to 52 straight games without a loss (48-0-4). 

The Captains were slow to start in the matchup as the Polar Bears matched the 3rd-ranked CNU squad's intensity through the first half. Seven minutes into the game, ONU put pressure on CNU's rookie goalkeeper, Amy Sidaway, with a hard  shot on goal, but the Captains' netminder secured the stop on the bouncing shot.
 
One of the best first half chances for CNU came on a gorgeous through ball pass by fifth-year senior Clare Davis, who found Emma Ricci with a 25-yard pass up the right side. In a footrace with the keeper, both players slid to the ball and Ricci got to it first for a touch but the shot rolled just wide right of the goal.

The uneventful first half was a stark contrast to the second stanza, which saw a spike in opportunities and a much more frenetic pace. 
 
About eight and a half minutes into the second half, the Polar Bears put another shot on goal but Sidaway cleaned up the attempt. Her save came after a hard shot ricocheted off the defender and cause a tough read, but the freshman keeper was up to the task.
 
With 29:19 remaining, Ohio Northern caught the Captains defense off guard on a breakaway and Sidaway was forced to come out in a one-on-one chance. She slid to force a touch away from the goal, but the referee whistled that she made contact with the Ohio Northern player and awarded the Polar Bears a penalty kick. Emma Cook converted from the spot, ending the Captains' shutout streak at 519:03, the seventh longest run in program history. The goal was only the second surrendered by CNU this year with both coming from the penalty spot. 
 
As if awakened from a slumber, the Captains' offense roared into form and immediately began to pressure the Ohio Northern defense. Alex Devers unleashed a missile from nearly 30 yards out that forced a fully-extended diving save by the Polar Bears keeper.
 
Just minutes of play later, the Captains followed through with the equalizer. Ellie Cox rushed through the middle of the field before sliding a pass to the outside for Molly Seventko. The sophomore midfielder diced up her defender and crossed a pass into the box that found the foot of Corinne Kulik. With the crossing ball already by the keeper, Kulik finished on the back side to knot the game up at 1-1.
 
Off the ensuing kickoff, the CNU attack maintained their high-paced attack and Ricci found Hanna Heaton for the next close call. Heaton's shot sailed high, but the opportunities continued to mount. Sarah Smith took the next chance, smashing a 35-yard try from the middle of the field that whistled wide as the clock trickled under 20 minutes remaining in the game.
 
The offensive barrage continued with a shot in the box blocked out of bounds to force a corner kick. After a nifty exchange outside, a pass into the box found Smith for a header on the back post, but the finishing chance was wide right. Seconds later, it was Ricci off a brilliant pass by Devers who saw her attempt cruise past the right post on the outside.
 
The Ohio Northern defense was overcome by the sudden surge in the Captains' offense and the final 25 minutes were played almost entirely in the CNU attacking third. Jackie Stallard played an exceptional pass down the length of the field for Seventko, who centered for Kulik again. She touched by the keeper but the ball trickled just beyond the end line before she could get a second look at it.
 
Each attempt wearing down the Ohio Northern defense a little more, the Captains' gamewinner would come in the 89^th minute, completing the comeback bid. After a hard foul just outside the box, sophomore Hanna Heaton would take the free kick with the seconds ticking down just over a minute. Heaton stepped up and ripped a near perfect shot toward the upper 90, forcing the goalkeeper to make a diving attempt. Her shot bounced off the bar and back into the field of play where Seventko was first to the ball, putting away the rebound for the win.
 
Needing to just hold on for one more minute, the Captains' put the final punctuation mark on the thrilling comeback win to extend it's season-opening win streak to seven straight games. Seventko's three-point performance were her first of the season while Kulik's goal was her second this year. Heaton notched her first career point as a Captain with the assist on the game-winning goal. 

The CNU defense continues to impress in the run of play, having gone through all seven games and 540 minutes of action without a single goal allowed. Reanna Slater, Nyah Savage, and Stallard have played the bulk of the minutes thus far this season. 

After their first real scare of the season, the Captains will stay out on the road for their next matchup to take on Methodist University on Wednesday evening at 5:00 p.m.