Courtesy of CNU Athletic Communications

Behind a second half strike from fifth-year senior Emily Talotta, the third-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team advanced to the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer National Quarterfinals for the second year in a row, downing No. 9 Trinity University (Texas) in the Round of 16, 1-0. The Captains will host the quarterfinal round on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. against Virginia Wesleyan University, who advanced with a 2-1 win over No. 13 UW-La Crosse. 

The Captains recorded the team's 15th shutout of the season while scoring only the fourth goal allowed by the Trinity defense all season long. Prior to Saturday, Trinity trailed in a game for only 34 seconds this season, but the Captains held the lead for the final 24 minutes after Talotta's go-ahead goal in the second half. 

The win, which is the second straight for CNU over Trinity in the Round of 16, improved the Captains to 19-0-2 this season while the Tigers dropped their first game of the year and finished the 2022 campaign at 21-1-2. 

Chances were limited on both sides as the game was played primarily between the two talented midfields. Taking on one of the highest-ranked scoring offenses in the country, the Captains defense held Trinity to just six total attempts and just three shots on-goal. On the other end, CNU took 12 total shots but also managed just three on frame. 

The first shot on-goal for the Captains came late in the first half when Nyah Savage played a nice ball into the corner for Corinne Kulik. The junior forward played a pass inside for Molly Beegle, who took a one-touch shot on frame, but the Trinity keeper turned away the chance. 

After a scoreless first half, Christopher Newport ramped up the pressure moving forward in the second. Early in the stanza Emma Ricci got a header that sailed just wide and Sarah Rhiel had a hard rip blocked by the Tigers defense. Then, after a hustle play by the entirety of the Captains' attack, the home team broke through. 

On a short goal kick taken by Trinity, Kulik and freshman Molly Seventko pressed high, forcing a pass back to the keeper that had to be rushed. The ball just made it out of the box and Talotta challenged the 50-50 ball, winning it moving to her right. After taking one touch past a defender, she had a clear look at goal and lifted an arcing shot over the outstretched hands of the Trinity netminder, into the right side of the goal from 30 yards out. 

The Arlington, Va. native continued a torrid run for the Captains' offense, scoring three game-winning goals in the last four games. Four of Talotta's nine career goals have come in postseason play as the veteran midfielder continues to come up in the clutch for Christopher Newport. 

After the Captains took the lead, Trinity quickly tried to even the score by pushing action toward the CNU goal. Michaela Bosco and Taylor Campbell had a pair of attempts within a minute of Christopher Newport's score, but the CNU defense held tight. In the 78th minute, Jaya Daniel was forced to go to the ground for a nice save, her third of the match. 

On a pair of corner kicks late in the second half, sophomore midfielder Ellie Cox played a pivotal role in eliminating both Trinity chances, clearing the ball up the field. The defense, led by Jill McDonald, Re Slater, Savage, and Rhiel, along with work from Jackie Stallard late in the game, picked up the team's 15th shutout, tying for the second most in program history. 

The Captains 19 wins rank tied for the third most in a season. The win extends Christopher Newport's streak of consecutive games without a loss to 44, ranking as the sixth longest roll in Division III history. 

Christopher Newport will next face a familiar foe in Virginia Wesleyan University out of Virginia Beach, Va. The Marlins and Captains played in the third game of the 2022 season with Christopher Newport earning a 2-1 win on the road while coming from behind with two second-half goals. CNU secured the win in the 89th minute on an unassisted goal by Sarah Smith. VWU owns a slight 13-10-4 advantage in the all-time series.