LEXINGTON, Va. --- A hat trick from sophomore forward Adrian Zimmerman (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic) and a defensive save in the final seconds propelled the top-ranked Washington and Lee men's soccer team past No. 24 Christopher Newport, 3-2, in the Round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.
 
With the win, the Generals improve to 17-1-2 overall and they will make the program's first-ever appearance in the National Quarterfinals. The Captains close their season at 12-5-2 overall with the loss.
 
The final minute was filled with suspense and peaked when a CNU shot got past the defense and was rolling towards the goal line with 40 seconds left. Senior defender Seth Chapman (Williamston, Mich./Fowlerville) slid in and kicked the ball away just inches before crossing for what would have been the equalizing goal. The defense then forced a goal kick in the final seconds, as the Generals hung on for the win.
 
With the scored tied, 1-1, Zimmerman scored his second goal of the game in the 63rd minute off a centering pass from the right side from first-year midfielder Weyimi Agbeyegbe (Atlanta, Ga./Westminster Schools). Less than three minutes later, Zimmerman scored yet again, this time off one-time pass from the top of the box by junior midfielder Michael Kutsanzira (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe/Putnam Science Academy (Conn.)).
 
CNU senior forward Will Collins pulled the Captains back to within a goal with just over 17 minutes remaining off an assist from senior defender Cory Hogge.
 
W&L struck first, and carried a 1-0 lead into halftime. Zimmerman scored in the 29th minute for his third straight game with a goal, with junior midfielder John Peterson (Towson, Md./Loyola Blakefield) assisting. Hogge then equalized, 1-1, in the 55th minute.
 
Zimmerman's three goals give him 14 for the season, the most on the team, and also pushes his NCAA Tournament goal total to eight and his point total to 16. Both marks tie the all-time Division III record for individual goals and points in a single tournament. The only other player to reach those numbers in a single tournament was Williams' Brad Murray in 1995, who tallied eight goals across five games.
 
Kutsanzira's assist extended his current program record to 13, while Peterson and Agbeyegbe recorded their sixth assists of the season each. Senior goalkeeper Michael Nyc (Kildeer, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) (8-0-1) played all 90 minutes and made two saves.
 
Hogge, Collins and first-year midfielder Jason LaViola each shot twice to pace the Captains' offense. Sophomore goalkeeper Gabe Barros (12-5-2) played the game's entirety and made two saves.
 
W&L edged the Captains, 11-10, in shots and 4-3 corner kicks, while each team tallied five shots on goal.
 
The Generals will take on No. 8 Messiah in their first all-time appearance in the National Quarterfinals on Sunday. The game will be played at 3:00 pm at Watt Field.