NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In a top-ten matchup with a national quarterfinal bid on the line, the second-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team held serve at home against the sixth-ranked Cougars of Misericordia University (19-2-2) on a brisk Saturday afternoon at Captains Field in the NCAA Sectional Round, winning the matchup 1-0. Fifth-year seniors Nyah Savage and Emma Ricci earned the right to play on their home field one more time after connecting on the lone goal of the contest in the 12th minute of action. 

Hosting the sectional round for the third straight season, Ricci, Savage, and the rest of the nationally-ranked Captains earned their third straight Round of 16 win at Captains Field. It is the fourth straight sectional semifinal victory for CNU and fifth in the last six postseason tournament appearances. The Captains advance to face No. 18 Johns Hopkins, led by former CNU head coach Dan Weiler, in the NCAA Division III National Quarterfinals to be played at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. 

With the victory, CNU improved to 18-1-2 overall this season while securing the 15th shutout overall and second against a top-ten opponent. The Captains outshot the Cougars by a final count of 23-7 including a 6-1 edge in shots on-goal. Facing only one attempt on frame, sophomore goalkeeper Amy Sidaway made the save in the 71st minute on an open look by Caitlin Somerville from about 20 yards out. The rest of the match, it was the CNU defense that was superlative, limiting one of the nations' top offenses to a season-low one shot-on-goal. 

Savage was at the forefront of that defensive effort, playing the full 90 minutes aside sophomore Bella DiTommaso. Senior center back, Reanna Slater, managed 85 minutes despite a five-minute respite for an injury, when Savage slid over to the middle and rookie Bella Aguayo helped lock down the opponents. The group, joined by junior defensive mid Kyleigh Gough, continuously thwarted the Misericordia attack before it could build chances in the attacking third. 

On the other end, Christopher Newport consistently created opportunities including five shots in the first 11 and a half minutes. The fifth would be the one that found the back of the net for the Captains as a pair of veteran Captains connected for the score. Starting in her record-breaking 88th career start for the Captains, Savage not only played a tremendous game defensively, but it was her through ball down the right side that set Ricci free for what would end up being the decisive goal-scoring opportunity. Ricci, who has played in 87 career games, was onsides with no one but the keeper to beat when she reached the ball down the right side. For the 21st time in her career and the seventh time this season, the Winchester, Va. native snapped home a wicked, whistling dart into the back corner of the goal. 

She has scored a career-high 21 points this season with a team-high five game-winning goals. Savage picked up her second assist of the season with the beautiful pass through the defense. 

With a 1-0 lead early, the Captains continued to play loose and created a number of opportunities against the Misericordia defense. Junior Hanna Heaton took ten shots in the game and blasted another chance off the left post that was nearly cleaned up by Corinne Kulik on a follow-up. Sophomore Alex Devers also took four shots, putting one on target, and Ellie Cox unleashed a pair of blasts for the CNU attack as well. 

Following the sectional win, the Captains watched as Hopkins eliminated NYU in the other Saturday matchup, 2-1. The two teams will now square off on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. with a trip to Las Vegas and the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer National Semifinals up for grabs. Live stats and a live video webcast will be available at CNUsports.com.