NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- This Saturday night at 7:00 pm, Captains Field will play host to a pivotal conference and regional matchup as the Christopher Newport University Captains (6-1-2, 2-0-1) will take on the Methodist University Monarch (7-1-1, 1-0-1). Live stats and a live video webcast will be available at CNUsports.com as the two teams battle for the final time in USA South regular season action. 

Both teams are currently ranked regionally by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) as Methodist holds the 7th spot in the South Atlantic Region, followed tightly by the 8th-ranked Captains. 

CNU has been on a bit of a run, unbeaten in their last seven games with a four-game winning streak. The Captains have been led by sophomore forward Jalon Brown, who has posted three straight game-winning goals, and has scored at least one point in all but one game so far this season. Brown scored two goals in this week's 5-1 win over St. Mary's College (Md.) as the Captains offense continued to roll, now averaging nearly two and a half goals per game. As strong as CNU has been offensively, the defense has been just as air-tight, allowing just a 0.85 goals against average. Junior keeper Sean Killion has three shutouts and has made 22 saves so far this season, while the starting back line of Brendan Cook, Caleb Lewis, Alec Faulkner and Tommy O'Neal has been stingy, allowing only 7.9 shots per game. 

That defensive unit will be tested Saturday night, as the Monarchs boast one of the most potent offensive attacks in the nation. Averaging three goals per game, Methodist ranks 29th in the nation in scoring offense and 17th in total goals. The offense is paced by the nation's leading scorer, Eric McGinnis, with 28 points so far this year. He ranks second in the nation in goals, with 14, and has added four assists to lead the dominant scoring unit. Eirik Nordseth has added six goals and four assists to provide a stellar second option up top, and defensively the Monarchs are giving up just a 1.11 goals against average. 

The CNU-Methodist series is one of the longest in program history, with the Captains holding a 26-15-1 advantage all time, dating back to 1974. CNU has won four straight, dating back to the 2007 USA South Tournament.