BUENA VISTA, Va. — The Southern Virginia University women's soccer team went toe-to-toe with nationally ranked No. 3 Christopher Newport University on a rainy Tuesday night, ultimately falling 1–0 after a late Captain goal decided the contest.
From the opening whistle, both sides showed intensity despite the slick conditions. The Captains controlled much of the first half with 11 shots, but goalkeeper Beth Manwill anchored the Knights' defense with four key saves to keep the match scoreless heading into halftime.
The tempo increased in the second half as Christopher Newport pressed forward, earning six corner kicks. Manwill continued her strong play, making three consecutive saves before Chloë Miller entered and added more stops to keep the Knights within reach.
In the 79th minute, however, the Captains finally broke through, finding the back of the net for the lone goal of the match. The Knights mounted a late push with offensive efforts from Ashlee Kelsey, Xoie Warner, and Ashley Hamblin, but the equalizer remained elusive.
Despite the narrow defeat, Southern Virginia's defensive grit stood out against one of the nation's top teams. The Knights now turn their focus back to USA South Conference play, where they remain unbeaten (4–0). They return home on Saturday, October 11, for Senior Day against reigning conference champions Methodist University, looking to avenge last year's championship loss.
For continued updates on the women's soccer program, follow @knight_wsoc on Instagram and visit knightathletics.com.