NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- A trio of second-year players created the lone goal in a 1-0 win for the fifth-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team on Sunday afternoon as the Captains (1-0-1) shut out Shenandoah University in the 2024 home opener. Alex Dalakis scored her first career goal off a feed from AP Webb in the 38th minute of action to lift the Captains to their first win of the season. 

Christopher Newport controlled the action throught the entire match against the Hornets, outshooting the visitors by a final count of 24-3 with nine attempts on frame. CNU also recorded nine corner kicks and narrowly missed a half dozen close opportunities while Shenandoah goalkeeper Kasie Kilmer was forced to make seven saves. 

With the win, Christopher Newport has now recorded 69 straight games without a loss (61-0-8) and trails only a 73-game run by Messiah College from Aug. 31, 2008 to Dec. 4, 2010 in NCAA Division III history. Not only does the unbeaten streak rank second in Division III history but is the fifth longest run in NCAA women's soccer history at any level. 

While the defensive effort was again supreme, the highlight of the day came when three sophomores connected for the game's lone tally in the first half. The play started out of the right back position where Bella DiTommaso jumped in front of a Hornet pass for the interception and rolled a perfect pass up field for Webb. Having just checked into the game minutes earlier, one of Webb's first touches was a brilliant hesitation to slip by her defender into the box. From there, she crossed a pass in front of the goal for Dalakis, who finished by tucking a shot into the left corner of the goal on one touch. 

The first goal in Dalakis' career held up as the gamewinner while Webb notched her first career point with the assist. 

Ellie Cox nearly doubled the score before halftime on the final corner kick of the half when she sailed a shot just high. Webb got the first CNU touch on the corner kick and it landed right in front of Cox for an outside-footed attempt that lobbed toward the upper 90 but was just inches off target. 

In the second half, the Captains ratcheted up the attack and tripled their shot count by the end of the stanza. One of the best opportunities came early when fifth-year senior Emma Ricci got loose down the right side and whistled a laser off the left post from inside the box. Corinne Kulik added another nice look that veered just right of the goal and Hanna Heaton ripped a shot from long distance that the Shenandoah keeper was forced to save with a tip over the bar in the 58th minute. After the early burst, Dalakis checked back in for CNU and nearly finished for a brace in the 66th minute when she came through with a missile from the top of the 18 that blazed above the crossbar.

While the offense added runs for the attack, Christopher Newport's stalwart defense continued its performance as one of the best units in the nation. Reanna Slater, Nyah Savage, and DiTommaso picked up their second straight shutout to start the season while playing in front of sophomore Amy Sidaway in game two. Sidaway now has 12 career shutouts to move up to eight on the all-time list ahead of Carola Reigner (2001-04). The second-year netminder needed to make just two saves on three shots in the game to lock up the clean sheet. 

CNU will next take on UT Dallas on Friday, September 6 at 5:00 pm before welcoming Ohio Northern on Sunday, September 8 at 11:00 am.