VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Extending one of the top rivalries in program history with another exceptional matchup on Friday night, the fifth-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team played to a 0-0 draw at No. 12 Virginia Wesleyan to open the 2024 season. The Captains (0-0-1) extend the second longest unbeaten streak in NCAA Division III history with a 68th straight game without a loss, improving to 60-0-8 while also logging the 51st shutout in the same span. 

Senior goalkeeper Jaya Daniel, who has been a part of 20 of those 51 shutouts, got the call to start game one after missing the majority of the 2023 campaign with an injury. Settling right back into form, the veteran netminder stopped a pair of shots on-goal and captured her 14th career clean sheet with the 90-minute effort. Both saves came early in the second half as the Marlins attempted long-range shots that Daniel snared with ease. 

The defense in front of her also had a standout game, allowing just eight total shots to the nationally-ranked opponent while the trio played the full 90 minutes. All-American Reanna Slater held down the middle while Nyah Savage, making her 68th straight start, and sophomore Bella DiTommaso each locked in for the full time. 

In the matchup, key defensive plays littered the action as both teams attempted to find the go-ahead tally. Late in the second half, newcomer Hannah Taylor made back-to-back sliding blocks in the box against a flurry of shots from the attacking Marlins. Midfielder Ellie Cox also swept through with an important clearance minutes later that would lead to an offensive spurt for Christopher Newport. 

While the defense stood tall against the Marlins, the offense peppered the Virginia Wesleyan keeper with 16 total attempts in the game. Hanna Heaton led the charge with six total attempts while nine other CNU players logged at least one shot in the game. Junior Kyleigh Gough nearly put the Captains ahead in the 63rd minute when she challenged the Marlins keeper, Ashleigh Lockard, when the ball squirted back to midfield after a restart. The defense attempted to clear, but Gough was there to step through with a powerful right-footed attempt, but the shot was stopped. 

In the final minutes of the game, Heaton sliced through the Marlins defense before finding space in the box to spin and fire a hard shot toward the right side, but the rip whistled wide in CNU's last real opportunity going forward. 

Virginia Wesleyan would have the last look at the goal when Alexis Miller received a pass in the box with less than 30 seconds remaining. Just under 10 yards away, she swung for the win, but Slater showed off her All-American prowess on defense and stood between the attacker and goal for the clinching defensive stop. 

Christopher Newport will return to action on Sunday, September 1 as they welcome in Shenandoah University for the first home game of the season at Captains Field. Kickoff against the Hornets is slated for 1:00 p.m.