NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- After battling through scoreless soccer for over 89 minutes, both teams scored in the final 30 seconds in an electrifying finale on Wednesday night as the Christopher Newport men's soccer team answered a late tally by Salisbury University to salvage a 1-1 draw. Sophomore Drew McWhinney knotted the match with 11.2 seconds remaining to lift CNU to their fifth draw of the season and run the Captains' overall record to 5-5-5.

Coming into the match on Wednesday, the Captains and Sea Gulls had played 46 times previously with the series deadlocked at 20-20-6. In the latest chapter of the long-standing rivalry, the two teams combined for 33 shots, with Christopher Newport holding a razor thin advantage at 17-16. The Captains put nine shots on frame to the Sea Gulls seven and both teams' defenses withstood an onslaught of pressure throughout the night. 

With the draw, the Captains improved to 5-1-4 at home this season while Salisbury's overall mark is now 5-7-4. 

The matchup featured a host of marquee moments including the wild finish. Earlier in the game, Christopher Newport goalkeeper Hayden Dewey made a highlight-reel save that kept the Sea Gulls off the board. After a breakaway allowed Salisbury to have a one-on-one chance against Dewey, he came off his line and cut off the angle for the would-be goal scorer. A hard shot whistled on target but Dewey slid to the ground and redirected the attempt away with a marvelous kick save. 

In the second half, Yazan Yaghmmour nearly put the Captains ahead on a header in the box that nearly caught the Salisbury keeper off guard. A quick reaction stoned the CNU attempt from point blank range and kept the match scoreless. 

With time ticking away, the fireworks came in the final minute of play. After a foul was whistled against the Captains on an offensive chance about 25 yards away from the goal, Gavin Miller stepped in and delivered the go-ahead score with a shot into the top left of the netting.

Despite short time, the Captains were not deflated, and sent everything forward on the ensuing kickoff. McWhinney was subbed onto the field and all ten field players were in the Salisbury half for the final 30 seconds. The play went through Jason LaViola on the left side and the senior played a beautiful ball into the box that was cut off by a Salisbury defender, but not cleared. The loose ball bounced once in the box and McWhinney connected on a spinning drive hip-high into the left pocket of the goal, sending CNU fans into a frenzy. The goal was his third of the season and second game-tying goal of the year. 

It marks the third time in four years that Christopher Newport has fallen behind in the final minute only to find the equalizer before the final horn sounded. In 2021, Lynchburg took a 1-0 lead with 45 seconds remaining before Cory Hogge connected on the game-tying strike with five seconds remaining. Then, in 2022, CNU answered a goal with less than 20 seconds left against Mary Washington in the C2C Championship when Owen Burnett put one away as the buzzer sounded. 

In the game, Yaghmmour led the way with four total shots while Barry Jones, LaViola, and Manzi Siibo each added two attempts. Siibo put both on target, including a header that had a chance in the second half but was saved by the Sea Gulls goalkeeper. 

Dewey made a season-high six saves in the contest and surrendered just the lone goal. It is the tenth game this season that CNU has allowed one goal or fewer to their opponent. 

Christopher Newport will close out the regular season on Saturday, November 2 as they welcome top-ranked Mary Washington to Captains Field for Senior Night. Kickoff against the Eagles is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.