Box Score
MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Top-seeded Christopher Newport University defeated fourth-seeded Averett 5-1 in the USA South Conference Tournament semifinals on Friday night at the Smith River Sports Complex. The loss ends the season for the Cougars, who enjoyed their best season in recent memory.
Christopher Newport (17-2), which advanced to Saturday's championship game, scored in the 19th minute on a Brian Lybert shot after a free kick from Trevor Moyer.
Averett (10-8-1) knotted the game in the 27th minute on a goal from sophomore
Samuli Markkanen. Freshman
John Thrower was credited with the assist after a long pass over the defense.
Just two minutes later, Lybert fed Nao Masuda for a goal to give the Captains the 2-1 lead that held up until the break. Masuda sealed the win with Christopher Newport’s third goal just 51 seconds into the second half off Lybert’s corner kick.
The Captains scored their fourth goal less than 10 minutes to go in the game when Joseph O’Connell snuck one past the Cougars’ goalkeeper
Nate Barker. Michael Zimmerman scored the final goal of the game to give Christopher Newport the 5-1 win. The Captains' final two goals came after the Cougars went a man down thanks to a double-yellow card.
There were 31 fouls and five cards issued during the course of the game, which was heated at times.
Barker finished with four saves for Averett and Justin Wolfe had three stops for the Captains.
Averett achieved a lot in head coach
Ed Goodhines' second season. The Cougars had their highest overall win total since 1998, and their three conference wins were the best since 2000. Averett also earned the right to host a conference tournament game for the first time in the program's history. That quarterfinal win over Greensboro College earned the program its first conference tournament win.