FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Setting up the third Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Championship in the last four seasons between Mary Washington and Christopher Newport University, the second-seeded Captains (6-6-5) earned a 2-1 win over UC Santa Cruz on Friday afternoon in the semifinal round. CNU got a first half goal from Zach Ruhlman and a pivotal insurance tally early in the second when sophomore Drew McWhinney put away the second goal of the match.

In the hard-fought battle, the Banana Slugs scored with just ten seconds remaining for the final count of 2-1, making McWhinney's goal the gamewinner in the 58th minute of play. CNU handed Santa Cruz their first loss to a Division III opponent this season as the Slugs fell to 6-2-9 overall on the year; the Captains improved to 6-6-5 and end an eight-game winless streak that dates back to late September. 

With the win in the C2C Semifinals, the Captains advance to play the host and top-seeded Mary Washington Eagles on Sunday for the conference title. UMW earned a 1-1 draw against #4 Salisbury in the other semifinal and advanced via penalty kicks to make their eighth straight title game appearance. It will be the sixth time in that eight game run that the Eagles and Captains have matched up with the league's automatic bid on the line. In the previous five, Mary Washington won twice, Christopher Newport twice, and the two played to a draw in the other matchup. 

In Friday's contest, which started late due to the first semifinal being stretched to PK's, the Captains and Banana Slugs were locked in a tightly contested matchup for the first portion of the game. In the final minutes of the opening stanza, it would be the Captains that struck first when a pair of juniors connected for the score. Caleb Jones had the ball at his feet near the corner of the box when he showcased a mistifying move to flick the ball around his defender and break free. With space, he played a square ball across the goal mouth and Zach Ruhlman was there to power home the shot. 

His third goal of the season gave the Captains a 1-0 lead heading into halftime while Jones captured his first point of the year with the helper. 

Having captured momentum, the CNU offense burst out of the halftime break with the first four shots of the second stanza. Asher Kuzemka had a header sail high and Manzi Siibo narrowly missed the goal wide left. McWhinney then had a shot rattle off of a defender that wound up setting up the eventual game-winning build. Colin Skwirut collected the loose ball for the Captains in the midfield and played outside to defender Carson Friedlein. The rookie outside back saw space and started to drive up the sideline -- when one Banana Slug defender checked forward, he played a soft touch around, leaped over his leg, and got to the ball for a hard cross into the middle. McWhinney watched as the play developed and was there, sliding through the pass to bury the second goal of the game high into the goal on the right side. 

With Santa Cruz adding a goal late, it would prove to be the gamewinner in the contest. It was his first winner of his second year and moves him up to second on the team in scoring with eight points on four goals this year. Friedlein earned his first collegiate point with the assist. 

The CNU defense weathered the remainder of the game as the Banana Slugs looked to save their season with a goal. Senior Trevor Smith locked down the midfield with Miles Maggioncalda while the back line of Kuzemka, Friedlein, C2C Rookie of the Year Declan Karney and Yazan Yaghmmour each played the majority of the contest to help lock down the win. Jack Otto also saw action in the back as the Captains registered their 11th game in 17 total contests this season that they have held their opponent to one goal or less. 

The C2C Championship will be played at Noon on Sunday at the Battleground Outdoor Complex. Live stats and a live video webcast will be available with links at CNUsports.com.