NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Extending the longest unbeaten streak to start a season since 2015, the 13th-ranked Christopher Newport men's soccer team equalized in the first half with a beautiful goal from Matt Liss and the Captains earned a 1-1 draw against the No. 3-ranked team in Division III, Colorado College (5-0-2). CNU gave up an early goal to the Tigers but answered back in the 27th minute to even the score and pull out the tie and improve to 4-0-3 on the season. 

The Tigers came into the game having given up just two goals in their first six games while boasting one of the nation's elite defensive units. Christopher Newport knocked in the third with a hard-nosed play by Liss from start to finish. First, the junior midfielder saved the ball from going out of bounds on the sideline right at midfield. He split a pair of defenders and drove the ball central where he dropped back a pass to Jason LaViola. As soon as he gave up possession, he took off sprinting down the left side and the hustle paid off as LaViola surveyed the scene, lined a perfect pass to Mason Field, who deftly one-touched the ball right back to Liss in stride. 

From there, Liss was free to dribble into the box and he ripped a hard line drive by the goalkeeper for the game-tying goal. It was his first goal of the season while LaViola picked up his team-leading fourth assist and Field notched his first point of the season with the helper. 

The thrilling equalizer was set up by the Tigers taking an early edge in the first half when Oliver Ramirez scored from inside the box off a feed from Alexander Ward. Ward looked to the right and Ramirez took advantage of a defender slipping and freeing him for an open look -- his hard shot was into the hands of CNU goalkeeper Hayden Dewey, but the ricochet popped up and into the goal. 

Both goals were scored at even strength, but Colorado College had to play a man down for the second half when a player was ejected for his second bookable offense with just under three minutes remaining in the first half. Despite going down a man before half, Colorado College had a chance to re-take the lead with about 90 seconds remaining in the first stanza when a long pass from the back drew out Dewey and a rebound left the Tigers open for a shot on an empty net. Junior Asher Kuzemka made the play, however, sliding back into the goal frame as a defender and turning away the would-be goal scorer with a key save for the Captains. 

The game flipped in favor of the Captains for the remainder of the contest, but the home team could not find the back of the net again despite out-shooting the Tigers, 8-4, including three shots on-goal in the second half. 

CNU finished with 12 total attempts from the field, taking one more shot than the visitors, and were led by sophomore Joe Summerfield with hree shots and one on-goal. Field and LaViola each put shots on-goal while Yazan Yaghmmour also tested the Colorado College goalkeeper with a shot on target. 

Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday night as they play host to No. 9 Rowan University at 7:00 p.m. The game serves as the 50th Anniversary Celebration for Christopher Newport Men's Soccer as alums have been invited back from across the nation and beyond. The Captains will recognize the former players during a halftime ceremony and a pre-game reception is being held for the alumni as well. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. after No. 1 Mary Washington and No. 3 Colorado College play in the first game of a doubleheader set to start at 5:00 p.m.