LA CROSSE, Wis. -- Christopher Newport junior Hanna Heaton added another goal and three more assists as she factored into all four scores against the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Sunday afternoon, helping lift the fourth-ranked Captains to a seventh straight win, 4-0. Fifth-year senior Emma Ricci added two goals to help lead the way while Lexi Hazelgrove notched a goal and an assist as CNU improved to 7-0-1 on the season. 

After setting the NCAA record for consecutive games without a loss on Friday with three goals, the Captains continued its offensive tear with four more in Wisconsin on Sunday. Heaton had a hand in six of the seven goals scored on the week, including setting up the game-winning goal in the 15th minute on Sunday. 

The Captains offense ripped 23 total shots in the game and were dangerously accurate with 15 shots on-goal. Leading the way was Heaton, putting all five of her shots on target, while Ellie Diehl added four total shots, including three on-net, off the bench for CNU. 

Emma Ricci stayed hot for the nationally-ranked Captains with her second straight game-winning goal. In the 15th minute of play, the Captains pieced together a beautiful combination of passes to set up the winner from Ricci. The high-pressure aggressive play by the Captains led to a Blugolds turnover that Ellie Cox turned into an offensive chance for CNU after playing backwards to Kyleigh Gough. Gough connected with Alex Dalakis up the middle who quickly touched over to Heaton; then, Heaton played a square ball off to the right for Hazelgrove, who one-touch passed the ball through to a streaking Ricci for a quick, one-time shot into the goal. 

The excellent teamwork lifted CNU to a 1-0 lead in the first half as the Captains took 11 shots in the first 45 minutes. The floodgates would open with three more in the second half with all three coming in a six-minute span between the 54th and 60th minutes. 

First, Heaton made another dynamite pass through a pair of defenders after Ricci made a brilliant move inside. After one touch into the six, she slid another well-placed shot under the sliding keeper for her second goal of the day and third tally of the season. Then, in the 57th minute, Heaton was dribbling into the box when she was tripped up and the referee whistled for a penalty kick. In her first attempt from the spot this season, Heaton got it by the keeper for her team-leading seventh goal of the year. 

Finally, less than three minutes later, the Captains took one of their nine corner kicks and Heaton delivered another picture-perfect pass into the box where Hazelgrove was waiting to re-direct a header into the back of the net. The goal was her first of the season and second of her career while Heaton notched her seventh assist of the season. 

Heaton now has 21 points on seven goals and seven assists in just eight games played this year. In her second year with the Captains, the transfer midfielder has already surpassed her team-leading total from 2023 with 20 points (7g, 6a), and is the first CNU player since Gabby Gillis in 2018 to record seven or more assists and goals in the same season. 

While the offense was humming, the CNU defense continues to flex its proverbial muscle while allowing just two total shots in the game to the Blugolds. Reanna Slater and Nyah Savage played all 90 minutes on the back line while Bella DiTommaso started and played 65 minutes. Bella Aguayo chipped in on the back line and the CNU defense suffocated in front of sophomore goalkeeper, Amy Sidaway, who improved to 6-0-0 on the season with her fourth shutout. 

CNU will look to continue it's winning streak on Wednesday, October 2 as the Captains welcome in Marymount University at 5:00 p.m. to Captains Field. Live stats and a live video webcast will be available at CNUsports.com.