NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In a thrilling matchup between two of the top teams in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the 21st-ranked Christopher Newport men's soccer team rallied from behind to capture a 2-1 win over the University of Lynchburg on Saturday night. After falling behind 1-0 in the first half, the Captains (2-0-0) rallied for a late first-half goal by Mason Field and later went on to win with a beautiful cross by Jonathon Leiding that led to a game-winning own goal with just under 15 minutes remaining. 

With the setback, the Hornets fall to 1-1-0 on in the season after opening the year with a win against Hardin-Simmons in the 2023 Steve Shaw Classic opener on Friday evening. The three-game event culminated in Saturday night's matchup that saw over 900 fans enter the gates to witness the back-and-forth bout. 

Fans were treated to an exciting battle as Lynchburg struck first in the 22nd minute. Manzi Shalita drove the end line before shuffling a pass across the box that was re-directed by Luke Mega to Pat Figaro. The combination play resulted in a goal by Figaro to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. 

It would be a lead that would not hold long, however, as CNU found the equalizer less than 15 minutes later. The game-tying strike came off an exceptional assist by Jason LaViola who had gotten loose down the left side. He turned in and delivered a low liner into the box where Field stood ready to volley in a shot for his second goal of the young season. Field had inside position on his defender, leapt into the air and re-directed a hard shot into the left side of the goal for the tally. 

At halftime, both teams had five shots and neither team had mustered a corner kick in the game. CNU sophomore goalkeeper Hayden Dewey made a pair of stops in the first half after surrendering the early score. In the second half, Dewey would rack up three more saves in net to secure his second straight win of the season. 

The win came courtesy of an own-goal in the 76th minute of action. Though the Hornets were the ones to put it in the back of the net, the score came on an exquisite delivery by a pair of Captains building toward the goalmouth. First, LaViola found himself on the ball down the left side and looked ahead to survey the field. His eyes caught a streaking Jonathon Leiding into the opposite corner and he pin-pointed his pass ahead of his veteran teammate. Once free in the corner, Leiding turned toward the middle and smashed a picture-perfect cross back into the box where a trio of Captains crashed toward the ball to make a play. Lynchburg connected in an attempt to clear and the ball slammed into the back of the net. 

That would be the difference in the game as CNU defended well against the upset-minded Hornets late in the game. Leiding, Kyle Stenzel, Ryan Kiely, and Jacob Dudley played the full 90 minutes on the back line to keep Lynchburg off the board in the second half. The veteran unit allowed just six shots on-frame and Dewey turned away all but one. 

Christopher Newport is back in action at home next weekend as they play host to Marymount University on September 9 at 2:30 p.m. before welcoming Randolph College on Sunday, September 10 at the same time.