Courtesy of CNU Athletic Communications / Photo credit: Benjamin Leistensnider

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Playing in front of a record-breaking crowd at Captains Field on a chilly Saturday night, the 11th-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team made program history with a 1-0 win over 17th-ranked University of Lynchburg to advance to the program's first ever national semifinals. The game-winning goal came with less than ten minutes remaining in the thrilling contest, as senior Gabby Gillis found sophomore Riley Cook for the score in the 81st minute. 

The Captains improved to 21-1-0 with the win in just the team's second ever national quarterfinal after suffering a loss to Wheaton in the 2004 effort. CNU will move on the to finals site for the first time in their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in six years under head coach Dan Weiler. Twice CNU suffered first round losses before then twice being eliminated in the second round, including a heart-breaking setback to Lynchburg last season, setting up the redemptive win for the Captains on Saturday night. 

"We've been certainly working toward this, this season, but really the last six years," said head coach Dan Weiler. "We built the foundation with the players who have come before this group, with the alumni and kind of got things started; climbing the ladder, through the conference for sure, but then also through the region. Little by little, we've gotten a little bit closer to it. We feel like we can beat any team and that every game has been pretty close. This team has a little something more in them that they just won't die -- they just won't give up."

The game was back and forth with both teams creating quality chances offensively and both defenses making impressive stops. For the first time this season, the Captains were outshot by their opponent, as Lynchburg notched 22 shots to CNU's 17, including an 11-7 edge in shots on frame. Sophomore goalkeeper Haley Eiser was up to the task, however, making a career-high 11 saves in net for the Captains. In the second half, Eiser made a game-saving leaping save on a shot from long distance by Emily Sanchez. The defense, led all season by sophomore center back Lulu Manley and juniors Shaye Doherty and Keiley McCarthy, weathered the formidable swarming offense of Lynchburg, holding the Hornets scoreless for just the third time this season.

On the offensive end, Christopher Newport turned, as they have all year, to their senior lead in Gabby Gillis to create the game-winning opportunity. After a Lynchburg goal kick was corraled by Gillis in the midfield, the two-time CAC Player of the Year put on a show dribbling up field. After racing toward the corner with one defender, she won a 50-50 ball against a second defender and split the two toward the goal line. Her next touch was nearly too long, and Lynchburg goalkeeper Delia LoSapio slid out to try and snare the ball, but the ball squirted loose and Gillis was able to get her toe on it for a touch back to Riley Cook open in the six-year box. With LoSapio still on the ground, Cook powered home the goal for what would hold up as her 12th game-winning strike of the season. 

"It's really special. I never would have imagined that from my freshman year to now that our team would have made so much progress and that this would be the end result. Honestly, words can't describe the feeling," said Gillis. 

Cook's goal was her 25th of the season and the 11th straight game the sophomore scoring leader had notched at least one goal for the Captains. She has scored at least one point in 16 straight games as the Captains have put together the second longest win streak in program history. 

Christopher Newport will advance to play either Williams College or William Smith College, who will play in their quarterfinal matchup on Sunday at 1:00 pm. The Captains will play in the semifinals on Friday, November 30. Washington (Mo.) has also already punched their ticket to Greensboro, where the national semifinals will be held at the UNCG Soccer Stadium. Game times and more information will be released at CNUsports.com as available. Tickets are available now for the Division III Women's Soccer Championship Weekend at this link.