NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- With a perfectly-placed in-swinger from the corner spot, Christopher Newport freshman
Catie Borsuk put an emphatic stamp on her first career collegiate game as the Captains' rookie scored the lone goal of the match and lifted the nationally-ranked Captains (1-0-0) to a 1-0 win over Methodist University on Tuesday afternoon. Playing on a sweltering September evening, the Captains outshot the visiting Monarchs by a final count of 29-2 and put 11 shots on-goal in the win.
Borsuk, an Ashburn, Va. native, is one of only two freshmen over the last ten years to register a goal in her first career game, joining
Alex Devers (2023). They are the only two rookies to score in their first collegiate game since Carson Pokorny, Kyra Locklear, and Keiley McCarthy all scored in their debuts during the 2016 season opener.
The goal came in the 73rd minute on her fourth attempt from the corner after two of the first three led to danerous chances for the Captains. On the first, junior midfielder
Avery Spell powered a header that was just a fraction of an inch wide as it caromed off the left post; the second saw Spell connect with another shot on frame but the Methodist keeper snared the attempt. In the second half, Borsuk called her own number, bending in an indefensible left-footed shot over the goalkeeper and into the netting.
With a 1-0 advantage and less than 20 minutes left to play, the Captains managed the game to secure another shutout for star senior goalkeeper
Amy Sidaway. The Shelby Township, Mich. native started the year as the all-time leader in clean sheets with 33 and picked up her 34th career shutout with the win. She needed to make just one save on two total shots in the game as the CNU defense handled Methodist for the duration.
Malayah Warner,
Nora Cook, and
Bella DiTommaso played full time on the back line with
Saige Berta and
Addy Hennessy helping to lock down the Monarchs.
Lexi Hazelgrove also played nearly 80 minutes in the defensive midfield, eliminating chances by Methodist as the CNU defense held possession on the attacking side of midfield for the majority of the contest.
Rookie
Alessi Carrier had a team-high four shots with two on target while Spell added three shots, two on goal. Borsuk also had two shots on goal with the one tally while eight different CNU players registered at least one shot on frame.
Christopher Newport will return to action this weekend with a pair of contests against unfamiliar foes. CNU will welcome Hardin-Simmons University from Texas on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and will face Chapman University, out of California, on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. It will be the first matchup all time against both programs.
