Box Score NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia – The nationally-ranked Christopher Newport University men's soccer team scored a pair of second-half goals and went on to defeat Rutgers University-Camden, 2-0, here Saturday night.
The Captains, ranked No. 11 in the NSCAA Division III poll and No. 13 in the
D3soccer.com rankings, improve to 6-1-1.
The Scarlet Raptors, who reached the NCAA Division III championship game last season, fall to 4-4 with their second consecutive loss. The last time the Scarlet Raptors were .500 after eight games was in 2009, when they started at 3-3-2. The last time they lost two straight games in one season was Sept. 29 and Oct. 2, 2010 with 2-1 losses against The College of New Jersey and Montclair State University.
Although the Captains out-shot the Scarlet Raptors, 8-1, in the opening half, neither team managed a goal. The game remained scoreless early in the second half thanks to a spectacular leaping save by Raptor sophomore goalie
Eric Bumbera (Wall, NJ/Wall), who knocked a hard shot by CNU sophomore midfielder
Harry Nodwell (Devon, England/Exmouth Community College) over the crossbar.
Ten minutes later, the Captains notched the only goal they needed, following a corner kick by senior forward
Jalon Brown (Yorktown, VA/Grafton). Senior defender
Stephen Landry (Midlothian, VA/Midlothian) headed the ball toward the far left post, where it was headed in by sophomore midfielder
Jimmy Grace (Elkridge, MD/Briar Woods). Grace's first goal of the season came at 59:30.
Brown added an insurance goal with 9:52 remaining following a long run and a one-on-one shot into the right corner. It was his team-leading sixth tally of the year.
Christopher Newport finished with an 18-4 advantage in shots, while Rutgers-Camden held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks. Bumbera made five saves for the Raptors. Captains junior goalie
Nolan Mann (Lynchburg, VA/Holy Cross Regional) had one save to earn the shutout.
Rutgers-Camden opens its New Jersey Athletic Conference schedule with a home game Wednesday night. The Scarlet Raptors, who are seeking their fourth straight NJAC crown, host William Paterson University at 7 p.m.
