NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Snapping a 12-game unbeaten streak against nationally-ranked opponents at home, the 25th-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team suffered a 1-0 loss to 7th-ranked Washington and Lee University on Saturday. Playing on a sticky and overcast day at Captains Field, the nationally-ranked showdown featured a first-half goal from the visitors that held up as the only scoring in the match.
With the loss, the Captains fall to 2-1-1 on the season while Washington and Lee improves to 3-0-0.
The lone tally came in the 15th minute of action after an early burst from the Generals whittled away at the CNU defense. A pair of early corner kicks were followed by a pair of shots on target but senior goalkeeper
Amy Sidaway was up to the challenge. The first came on a free kick just outside of the box and Sidaway snuffed out the knee-high chance. Sidaway's second save was an easy collection on a shot from long range.
Utilizing a counter attack, the Generals connected off a pass from the right side when Aubrey Dunbar drove into the box and crossed into the middle. A CNU defender attempted to clear with a header away from the goalmouth, but a fortuitous bounce for Washington and Lee allowed Elizabeth Zimmerman to tee up a shot that ricocheted in off the right post from just beyond the penalty spot.
Sidaway locked in for the rest of the match and piled up eight saves while holding the potent Generals offense off the board the rest of the game.
Julia Joyner added a team save as she cleared an attempt off the line after a corner kick in the 32nd minute.
Thanks to the hard work between the pipes, the Captains remained within striking distance throughout the game. The offense raised the level in the second half and pressured the Washington and Lee defense with three early shots after halftime.
Bella Aguayo lofted one too high after a brilliant build through the middle starting with
McKenna Kolasch. The midfielder slipped a pass up to
Anaya Lozano who slid it back to
Lexi Hazelgrove for a quick pass up and over the defense to
Grace Shifflett. After a deflection, Aguayo ripped a shot from long distance and missed, but the offense showed life.
The Captains got back-to-back attempts in the middle of the second half when
Nora Cook took a restt in the 73rd minute and launched a well-placed ball into the box. At the end of the play,
Avery Spell put a header toward the goal snared by the keeper. A minute later, it was
Ellie Diehl who nearly equalized for the Captains. Shifflett collected a loose ball and played into the right corner for rookie
Alessi Carrier. After collecting herself, she slammed a cross into the box where Diehl was waiting for a header flick toward the goal, but the shot trickled just wide.
Despite the mounting pressure in the second half, the Captains were unable to find the game-tying goal and were forced to settle for the 1-0 loss. CNU outshot the visitors, 7-5, in the second half, and took eight total shots in the game.
Christopher Newport will look to bounce back on Sunday as they take on Stockton University (1-0-3), who played to a scoreless draw at Batten University on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for Noon against the Ospreys on Sunday.
