VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. --- Draw controls and time of possession played a huge part for Christopher Newport in overtime as they scored three unanswered goals, prevailing against host Virginia Wesleyan, 11-8, in a non-conference match on Foster Field at the Trinder Center on Wednesday.

In a back-and-forth battle, both teams swapped goals for the first four points of the game. The Captains were able to push their lead out by scoring two straight goals, but not before the Marlins' scored a last second goal at the end of the first half to make it a 4-3 CNU lead at halftime.

In the second half, Christopher Newport looked to pull away after scoring the first two goals in the half, until Virginia Wesleyan sparked a run with two goals from senior Courtney Shelton (Prince Frederick, Md./Huntingtown) and a goal from senior Courtney Williams (Leonardtown, Md./Leonardtown) in a span of nine minutes to tie the game at 6-all.

The Captains were able to take the lead back with a score, but the momentum quickly changed as the Marlins' turned the intensity up and put the pressure on their cross-town rivals by powering two shots in the back of the net, one by Williams and the other by senior Natalie Belva (Colorado Springs, Colo./Liberty), to give VWC their first lead and forcing Christopher Newport to call a time-out with 6:28 remaining in the game.

Despite trailing, CNU was able to force overtime on a goal by Jessica Singer (Herndon, Va./Herndon) with 3:08 left in regulation. In the overtime session, Christopher Newport won the battle in draw controls, allowing them to score three goals and melt the clock down for the victory.

Shelton led VWC with three goals, Williams added two, and Belva chipped in with one, along with juniors Taylor Harding (Norfolk, Va., Norfolk Collegiate) and Nikki Salyers (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park). Belva added two assists, while Harding had one.

Singer and Maddy Connor (Alexandria, Va./Bishop Ireton) finished with three and two goals, respectively, for CNU.

Senior goalie Michelle Mace (Dumfries, Va./Woodbridge Forest Park) recorded 14 saves for the Marlins' and Hannah Wilkerson (Falls Church, Va./Falls Church) posted 11 saves for the Captains, which held a 25-24 advantage in shots on goal.

Virginia Wesleyan will travel to conference-foe Lynchburg for their next competition on Saturday, March 10 at 2 p.m. That game will be the first of two straight away contests to open up conference play for the Marlins.

---AMDG---