NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In a battle between two of the nation's top defensive teams, naturally five goals were scored and 35 shots were attempted in Sunday night's NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Second Round Game at Captains Field. The top-ranked Christopher Newport Captains faced a 2-1 first-half deficit before roaring back with a pair after intermission to escape the Green Terror of McDaniel College, 3-2, and advance to a third consecutive sectional weekend in postseason play. 

The Captains improved to 18-0-2 despite seeing an 11-game shutout streak come to an end against McDaniel. The Green Terror closes out their 2023 campaign with a 12-4-5 overall record. 

After Christopher Newport took an early 1-0 lead on a penalty kick goal by Kyleigh Gough, the Green Terror responded with a set piece goal from just outside the box in the 18th minute of action. The goal ended a program record shutout streak of 1146:55 while rookie Amy Sidaway saw one of the longest individual scoreless runs in Division III history end at 1062:35, ranking 11th all-time.

Then, with less than two minutes left in the first half, the Green Terror were awarded a penalty kick of their own when a handball in the box was whistled by the referee. Leading scorer Jessica Weinoldt scored the PK and took a 2-1 lead against the vaunted CNU defense. 

McDaniel becomes just the second team to score multiple goals in a game against the Captains since head coach Jamie Gunderson took over at the start of the 2021 season. The CNU defense has allowed just 18 total goals over the first 64 games under his guidance and have trailed in a game only seven times in that stretch. 

Despite trailing into the intermission, the Captains were out-shooting their opponents, 15-4, including a 6-3 advantage in shots on goal. Facing a deficit, Christopher Newport came flying out of the break with a renewed sense of urgency that quickly led to a game-tying goal. 

CNU got a header on frame from Sarah Smith and a rocket shot by Corinne Kulik saved by the McDaniel keeper. The defense managed to turn away the early rush until another foul was called in the box for the third penalty kick attempt of the day. This time it was Heaton who stepped to the spot for Christopher Newport and the sophomore ripped a hard shot into the back of the net to equalize. Playing in front of a rousing postseason crowd, the Captains tied the match at 2-2 in the 50th minute and kept coming.

Led by fifth-year midfielder Clare Davis and senior Emma Ricci on the outside, the Captains created options early and often in the second half. After a beautiful give-and-go combination on the right side, Davis found Smith open in the box, but a McDaniel defender slid in front of her shot at the last moment. Over a ten-minute stretch from the start of the 54th minute to the end of the 63rd, Christopher Newport peppered the McDaniel keeper with eight shots including a pair of blistering line drives from Davis and midfielder Ellie Cox.  

The constant pressure in the McDaniel end finally led to the go-ahead tally from Kulik with just under 18 minutes in the game. The veteran forward drove into the box after a nice feed by Davis on the right side. Taking on two defenders, Kulik used some fancy footwork to get herself open. After a step-over dribble, she played back to the top of the box and then lofted a perfectly-paced shot off the center of the crossbar and into the goal, sending the CNU bench into a frenzy. 

Re-taking the lead, this time at 3-2, with Kulik's fourth goal of the season, the Captains defense was put to work for the final 20 minutes. Reanna Slater, Nyah Savage, and Bella DiTommaso turned away push after push as McDaniel tried to save their season. Savage made a tremendous one-on-one challenge near the sideline to eliminate a break for the Green Terror and DiTommaso smashed a pair of long balls up field to slow the late rally. On the other end of the Captains' formation, senior forward Natalie Swarm showed endless energy in forcing the McDaniel back line to work quickly. 

In the game, the Captains dominated possession and offensive chances despite falling behind, 2-1. CNU outshot McDaniel, 19-6, including a 14-2 advantage in the second half. The Captains put 12 shots on target, including three by Smith and two apiece by Kulik and Lexi Hazelgrove. 

With the win, Christopher Newport advances to face No. 23 Virginia Wesleyan University (17-2-2) in the sectional round next weekend. Late Sunday night, the NCAA announced that Christopher Newport would serve as host for the sectionals for a second straight year and the third time in program history. CNU and Virginia Wesleyan are set to play at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 18 before a 4:30 p.m. kickoff in the other Round of 16 matchup. The other two teams playing in next weekend's sectional will be Cal Lutheran (16-1-4) versus Hardin-Simmons (17-1-2). The two advancing teams will play at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 19 with a Final Four berth on the line.