SWARTHMORE, Pa. -- Junior midfielder Hanna Heaton became just the fifth player in Christopher Newport women's soccer history to score a goal in five straight games on Saturday afternoon when she lifted the third-ranked Captains (9-0-1) to a 1-0 victory over Swarthmore College on the road. The Captains extended their overall unbeaten streak to 77 games (69-0-8) and have now registered the eighth longest win streak in program history with nine straight wins. 

Twice in head coach Jamie Gunderson's tenure have the Captains recorded win streaks of 10 or more games with a 13-game roll from September 5 through October 24 in the 2021 championship season and a 10-game burst from the very next game through the end of the title season and game one of 2022. This marks the fourth time in four years that the Captains have won nine in a row since he took control of the program and CNU has yet to take a loss in his tenure as well. 

The victory came against another high quality opponent away from home as CNU took on a Garnet squad that was receiving votes in this week's United Soccer Coaches national rankings and was ranked as high as No. 21 earlier this year. With the loss, Swarthmore suffers its first loss of the season and drops to 5-1-4 overall. The Garnet becomes the sixth team this season that has lost its first game at the hands of the Captains. 

In the matchup, the Captains continued its dominance defensively, holding Swarthmore to just six total shots in the game on their home field. Ont he other end, CNU had six shots on goal and 17 total in the game. 

Junior defensive midfielder Kyleigh Gough had a standout game possessing the ball and eliminating threats by the home team's offense. Reanna Slater and Nyah Savage played full time for the ninth straight game while sophomore goalkeeper Amy Sidaway made four saves in the contest to lock up the shutout. Bella DiTommaso also logged all 90 minutes at the other outside back position to help CNU secure its sixth shutout this season and 57th in the last 77 games. 

The lone score of the game came just moments into the second half on an aggressive play by Heaton in the middle of the field. Swarthmore was looking to organize in the midfield and Heaton attacked the ball for a turnover that set her loose toward the goal. As a defender grabbed and clawed to catch her, Heaton dove into the box, took the goalkeeper head on and tucked away a perfectly-placed shot into the right side of the netting. Her ninth goal of the season is her second gamewinner and gives her at least two points in all but three games so far this year. 

Heaton now has 26 points on nine goals and eight assists through ten games this season. She is the first Captain to score 25+ points in a ten-game stretch since Riley Cook during the 2021 NCAA championship season. Heaton has either scored or assisted on 13 of the last 14 goals scored by CNU dating back to the Trinity (Texas) game on September 20. 

The Captains nearly had three goals early in the first half as Heaton combined with starting forwards Corinne Kulik and Emma Ricci for several dangerous chances. Kulik had a short range rocket stoned by the keeper and finished the game with a team-high five total shots in the game. 

Christopher Newport is home for their next matchup on Wednesday, October 9 against Southern Virginia University. Kickoff against the Knights is slated for 7:00 p.m. and will be played immediately following the men's matchup against Washington and Lee at 5:00 p.m.