NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Christopher Newport tacked on three more goals to the highlight reel on Sunday afternoon as the fifth-ranked Captains (3-0-1) raced by Ohio Northern University (2-1-0) in a 3-1 victory. Playing against the Polar Bears for just the second time in program history, CNU extended their program-record unbeaten streak to 71 games with the win. 

Three CNU players got into the scoring column in the contest as Hanna Heaton and Alex Dalakis found the back of the net again for CNU while senior midfielder Ellie Cox registered her first goal of the season. The Captains defense surrendered their first goal of the season, snapping a shutout streak that reached over 338 minutes to start the season. It stands as the second longest season-opening shutout streak in program history behind only the 2019 run that extended into game five. 

Heaton led the offensive attack with a goal and an assist in the game while taking a team-high five total attempts from the field. Her goal would open the scoring on a blow from just inside the 18-yard box with a shot that screamed into the right corner of the netting. Kyleigh Gough got the play started with a pass off to the left that gave Heaton a chance to survey the scene. The junior midfielder took on two defenders before sliding to the top of the box and unleashing a missile beyond the outstretched hands of the Ohio Northern keeper. 

The tally came in the first ten minutes of the second half and punctuated an initial burst that saw Alex Devers and Heaton each challenge the keeper with shots on goal in the first five. CNU would not wait long before adding to the lead with their second goal coming in the 63rd minute. Lexi Hazelgrove drove the ball down the middle of the field before pushing a pass to the left for Heaton. This time, she looked to facilitate as she faced up a defender and faked a move inside before a perfect cross into the box. The head-high pass met its target, sophomore Alex Dalakis, who redirected the left-to-right pass back the other way into the left corner of the goal for her second goal of the season. Dalakis picked up her second game-winning goal of the season with the expertly placed header.

The Captains held onto a two-goal advantage for just six minutes as the Polar Bears responded with a corner kick goal in the 69th minute. Cutting the lead in half, Ohio Northern chested in a shot by Jess Gast off a corner taken by Jill Roberts for the first score against the CNU defense in 2024. 

As quickly as the lead was cut to one, the Captains responded even faster, re-taking a two-goal lead less than a minute later. After a foul whistled on the Polar Bears, Gough stepped in from about 30 yards out. She played a horizontal pass to a wide open Ellie Cox, who took advantage of the space and smashed a sizzling strike into the top of the goal. The insurance goal came off her right foot and was lined over the top of the Ohio Northern keeper to answer. 

Overall, Christopher Newport took 18 shots in the game and put eight on target. The defense allowed only three total shots with only the one being on net. 

CNU will next face off against Emory University in a neutral site contest on Saturday, September 14. The Captains take on the Eagles at Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C. with kickoff slated for 11:00 am.