NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Making history between the pipes for the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team, junior goalkeeper Amy Sidaway became the fastest player in program history to 40 wins when she secured her 27th career shutout on Wednesday night. The third-ranked Captains improved to 7-0-2 on the season with a 1-0 victory against Catholic University on an unseasonably warm evening at Captains Field.

Sidaway improved to 40-2-6 in her 48th career game played for the Captains, besting the previous mark of 50 games set by a pair of CNU netminders. First, Carly Maglio established the record with 40 wins in 50 games played from 2015-17 before All-American Haley Eiser matched her performance with 40 wins in her first 50 career appearances from 2017-21. 

The three stars in net have started 175 of the last 203 games for Christopher Newport while the Captains have established themselves as one of the best defensive teams in NCAA Division III. In that span, CNU goalkeepers have registered an overall record of 173-16-17 with 130 shutouts; that equals out to an unfathomable .631 shutout percentage and a winning percentage of over 89 percent. Utilizing an all-star defense in front of them, the ten-year stretch with that level of consistency in goal has led to nine NCAA Tournament appearances, three Final Fours, and one national championship. 

In Wednesday's matchup against the Cardinals, Sidaway needed to make three saves to ensure her 27th career shutout, moving past Maglio into sole possession of second all-time at CNU. The defense playing in front of her, rookies Nora Cook, Addy Hennessy, Malayah Warner, and junior Bella DiTommaso, surrendered just six shots with three on-goal. 

On the offensive end, Christopher Newport scored the gamewinner in the 20th minute off a set piece near the sideline. After a foul was whistled just in front of the Catholic bench, senior midfielder Hanna Heaton stepped up to deliver the cross into the box. The pass sailed over a large portion of the defenders in the box toward the back post where junior Lexi Hazelgrove headed it back across the goalmouth. With the goalkeeper forced to track the ball in the air, Kyleigh Gough was left all alone in front of the netting for open net goal. It was her second goal in the last three games and both held up as game-winning goals for CNU. 

In the second half, CNU nearly doubled the lead in the 64th minute on a tremendous one-timer attempt in the box. Gough was in a battle for the ball on the sideline when rookie Julia Joyner joined the challenge with a double team and won possession. Joyner set Gough loose toward the corner and the senior was able to press all the way to the goal line before crossing into the box, where Katy Bronski volleyed a rocket on target. The Catholic goakeeper, Ava Rieger, made a fully-extended diving save to eliminate the chance. 

On the ensuing corner kick, DiTommaso played a nice ball into the box that Hazelgrove got another head on, but this time her shot soared just wide of the goal. 

While the action was limited in terms of total attempts on frame, the Captains had moments of impressive play up and down the lineup. Sophomore midfielder Avery Spell had several nifty touches in the midfield to evade defenders and Hennessy sprung loose for a couple impressive runs up the right side. Warner made a highlight-reel run up the field, ditching three Catholic defenders along the way before sending a pass into the box up field. Cook made her first career start, playing 83 minutes on the back line, while Saige Berta and Stella Corso also appeared for the rookie class. 

With the win, CNU added another game to the longest active home unbeaten streak in the NCAA as the Captains improved to 46-0-5 since November 6, 2019. It was also the 71st shutout in the last 99 games for the Captains. 

CNU will now have a week off before returning to action next Wednesday, October 1 at Marymount University.