NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The Marietta College men's soccer team opened play at the 2009 Joe Pombriant Classic with a heart-breaking 1-0 loss to host #5 Christopher Newport University Friday (Sept. 18) night at Captains Field. [Box Score]

Marietta (2-4-1) rose to the challenge against Christopher Newport (5-1), who advanced to the NCAA Division III Elite Eight in 2008. The Pioneers' defense withstood every Captain scoring threat throughout the first half and entered intermission locked in a scoreless tie.

The game remained tied at 0-0 until the 77th minute when a Marietta defender attempted to cut off a Christopher Newport attack and committed a foul in the box, which led to a penalty kick. Cliff Kipper took the kick and sent a shot toward the upper 90 of the left side of the goal. Pioneer sophomore Andrew Shannon (Cincinnati, Mariemont) made the correct read and leaped to make the save. Shannon got a hand on the ball but it caromed off the bottom of the crossbar and into the back of the net for the game-winner.

The PIoneers did not go without their own scoring chances, as senior forwards Kyle Muth (Twinsburg, Twinsburg) and Seita Kawamoto (Ebina, Kanagaua, Japan) both fired shots that glanced off the post during the game.

Christopher Newport out shot Marietta 22-2, including 10-0 in shots on goal. Shannon finished with 9 saves in the loss.

The Pioneers will look to bounce back on the final night of the Joe Pombriant Classic when they take on Methodist University at 7 p.m.