Big Second Half Leads CNU Over Salisbury, 5-2
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Captains men's soccer team scored four goals in the second half, blowing past regionally-ranked Salisbury University Wednesday night, 5-2. Senior T.J. Byrd keyed the second half surge, playing part in a pair of goals scored just 15 seconds apart, including the game-winning tally, the first of his career.
Christopher Newport improves to 9-2-2 overall this season, while the Sea Gulls drop to 7-4-2. The Captains offense scored five goals on Salisbury, whose defense had allowed just seven total goals through the first 12 games.
The Captains led just 1-0 at the break, off senior Andrew Bonorden's seventh goal of the season. Denny Arinello set up the play with a long run across the top of the box, giving way to Karl Kummer for a cross back over the penalty area. Moriarty reached the ball on the goal line, dribbled by a defender and found Bonorden near post for the open look.
In the second half, Bonorden quickly added a second goal to give CNU a 2-0 lead. On a terrific combination play, defender Tommy O'Neal carried the ball up the sideline before slipping a pass through a pair of salisbury defenders right to the feet of Arinello. The senior midfielder had free space in front of the keeper and found Bonorden waiting on the goal line for the score.
After the Sea Gulls cut the lead in half on an Elliott Crompton score in the 58tth minute, the fireworks began for CNU. The Captains responded less than a minute later when Caleb Lewis and Michael Zimmerman set up Byrd's goal-scoring strike. On the re-start, Byrd played the pass back aggressively and ran through the ball against his defender. When the ball bounded toward the Salisbury goal, Byrd had a breakaway chance; he drew the goalkeeper out and then passed right to sophomore Jalon Brown who put away the score.
That would prove to be plenty, as Salisbury scored on a Penalty Kick in the 64th minute but would get no closer. The Captains added a fifth and final goal in the 83rd minute of action when Caleb Lewis blasted a hard shot into the top of the netting off an assist by rookie Mark Brewington.
The Captains outshot Salisbury, 22-13, including a 14-6 advantage in shots on-goal. CNU's rookie goalkeeper Nolan Mann allowed just the two goals while saving four. Salisbury split the goalkeeping duties with starter John Vnenchak allowing four goals and saving six and Michael Nerud adding three saves and one goal allowed.
Christopher Newport will now travel to Tennessee this weekend to take on Sewanee University (3-7-2) on Sunday, October 14 at 3:00 pm.
