NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- With five points on a pair of goals and an assist, Christopher Newport senior Molly Seventko put together the finest offensive performance of her career and lifted the third-ranked Captains (4-0-0) to a fourth straight win to open the 2025 season. Playing on a cool, overcast day at Captains Field, the Captains turned in a blazing hot performance to secure another home shutout with a 4-0 win over Mount St. Joseph (1-2-0).

Seventko scored in the 10th and 20th minutes of action before first team All-American Hanna Heaton added a sizzling score of her own in the 21st. In the second half, junior Alex Devers notched the game's final tally in the 52nd minute on Seventko's fifth point of the afternoon as she added a helper to her own brace. 

Before heading out on the road for the first time this season, the Captains closed out a four-game homestand perfect with a 4-0-0 record and four shutouts to set a new program record for the longest shutout streak to start a year. Amy Sidaway paired up with senior Abby Ochs in goal to secure the clean sheet while the defense in front of them continued their suffocating play, limiting the Lions to just two total shots in the game. 

The first shot was an early challenge that forced Sidaway to make just her fifth save this season but came at point blank range. Just nine minutes into the game, a cross came in from the right side and Bailey Dotson one-touched a close-range shot on frame, but Sidaway smothered the try. 

From there, the Captains flipped the field and were in complete control. Bella Ventimiglia carved up the right side of the field on multiple runs, setting up chances for the Captains in the first ten minutes. The first goal came when Heaton played Ventimiglia out to the right and she drove into the box by her defender. Sliding a pass across the box to Seventko, the senior forward powered in a one-touch shot into the left side of the goal for her first score of the season. 

About ten minutes later, the Captains would take advantage of a set piece from the corner after a foul was whistled against Mount St. Joseph. Playing as a short corner just outside the box on the left side, Heaton delivered a perfect pass in and Seventko leaped above her defender to power home the header into the top shelf of the goal. It marks the first brace of Seventko's career while Heaton snagged her 24th career assist and first of the year. She moved into a tie with Maxine Borris, Emily Talotta, and Ashleigh Dota for third all-time in career assists.

Before the Lions could catch their breath, the Captains turned a 2-0 lead into a 3-0 advantage as another free kick spelled disaster for the visitors just two minutes later. This time, AP Webb was dragged to the turf just two yards outside of the box in the center of the pitch to earn another whistle to set up a dynamic finish by Heaton. On the restart, facing four players in a wall, Heaton blasted an indefensible right-footed shot over their heads, off the left post and in for the score. 

Staked to a 3-0 lead, the Captains defense took control from there. Starters Bella DiTommaso, Malayah Warner, Kyleigh Gough, and Addy Hennessy played the majority of the minutes, but rookies Nora Cook, Natalie Stern, and Stella Corso each saw their first collegiate minutes in helping secure the shutout. Ochs checked in in the 71st minute and closed out the shutout with 19:25 played between the pipes as the senior extended her personal shutout streak to 438:31 in 13 career games played. 

In addition to the stalwart defensive effort, a host of Captains saw action in the midfield and helped lock up the Mount St. Joseph attack. Sophomore Avery Spell played a season-high 46 minutes and delivered several dangerous passes on the offensive end while also taking a shot on-goal herself. QB Osuna, Saige Berta, and Brooke White each played key minutes in the midfield while Lauren Croley and Alex Dalakis provided chances at the top of the CNU offense. 

The final offensive highlight of the game would come just over six minutes into the second half. Ventimiglia played another key role in the goal as she delivered an excellent through ball down the right side for Seventko. The senior battled for possession around the box before scooting a pass central for Alex Devers -- she settled the pass and then slammed in a shot to the left side. 

CNU outshot Mount St. Joseph by a final count of 21-2 including an 11-1 advantage in shots on-goal. The Captains took eight corner kicks without surrendering a single corner to the Lions. 

Christopher Newport will carry a four-game winning streak into the first road trip of the season as the team travels to Ohio next weekend for a pair. The Captains will take on Case Western Reserve University on Friday, September 12 at 4:00 p.m. before facing the host Ohio Wesleyan University Battling Bishops at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 14.