NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 13th-ranked Christopher Newport University men's soccer team opens its 2012 season on Friday, with a huge national showdown against defending national champion Ohio Wesleyan at 7:30 pm. It is the second half of a doubleheader at Captains Field, as York College (Pa.) will take on Virginia Wesleyan at 5:00 pm. 

Live stats will be available for both games and a live video webcast of the Christopher Newport/Ohio Wesleyan game will also be available at CNUsports.com. 

The Battling Bishops, ranked number one in the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America (NSCAA) preseason poll, have made an NCAA-record 34 straight trips to the postseason including the national championship run last year. Led by the winningest men's soccer coach across all divisions, Jay Martin (608-115-49), the Ohio Wesleyan squad is a perennial power at Division III. 

The Bishops will be anchored by a solid defense, including senior goalkeeper Paul Hendricks, who posted a 0.94 goals against average last season. Offensively, Matt Shadoan returns as the leading scorer after posting 20 points last season. 

The Captains will have a fresh look in 2012, after suffering the losses of five senior starters from last season. All-Region goalkeeper Justin Wolfe and All-Americans Brian Lybert and Winston Mattheisen will be among those missed, but CNU appears ready to fill the holes with veteran leadership. 

At the top, senior Andrew Bonorden will play a more prominent role after scoring 15 goals in his first three years. Defensively, the Captains expect to be very strong, led by All-American center back Sean Moriarty. Rising sophomores Alec Faulkner and Tommy O'Neal will likely fill out the back line with seniors Brendan Cook and Caleb Baker. 

Head coach Steve Shaw, the dean of Christopher Newport University coaches in his 17th season, will lead the way after guiding the team to its highest win percentage in school history in 2011. Shaw has a career record of 222-82-19 for a winning percentage over 71%. 

The Joe Pombriant/CNU Classic will continue on Saturday, with Virginia Wesleyan hosting Ohio Wesleyan in Virginia Beach, and then conclude on Sunday when York College (Pa.) takes on the Captains at 1:00 pm on Captains Field.