NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Notching its 15th straight victory on Sunday, the Christopher Newport field hockey team vaulted up the national rankings and now sits fifth in the latest NFHCA poll entering CNU's final homestand of the regular season, which begins on Wednesday with a 6 p.m. showdown against Wilson.

On an incredible roll, the Captains sit at 15-0 overall and stand as the nation's only undefeated team. Even more impressive, the squad's 15-game winning streak is the longest active run at any level in the NCAA. It also matches the longest in CNU history, equaling the accomplishments of the 2007 and 2012 teams.

Hanging around the top-10 throughout the season, Christopher Newport finally cracked the NFHCA top-five for the first time since climbing all the way to fourth in October, 2007. The Captains also collected seven first-place votes in Tuesday's rankings, which stand as the most by the team in program history.

At the top of the poll for the second straight week, Montclair State held on to the No. 1 spot and earned 32 first-place votes. Bowdoin sits second with nine first-place tallies, while Tufts and Middlebury round out the top-four.

The Captains are joined in the national rankings by two other Capital Athletic Conference members. Salisbury is currently eighth in the nation, while Mary Washington is 12th. CNU upended the Sea Gulls last Wednesday and will square off with the Eagles in Fredericksburg at 4 p.m. on October 30.

Entering the final two weeks of the regular season, Christopher Newport sits among the national leaders in nearly every statistical category. Defensively, the team has been especially dominant and ranks fifth in save percentage and sixth in goals-against-average. CNU also stands ninth in scoring margin and among the top-25 in scoring average and points-per-game.

Ranked in the top-five in goals-against-average and save percentage on an individual level, Bailey Lien has helped the Captains post eight shutouts this year, which stands as the third most in program history. She has been helped by a veteran back line as reigning CAC Defensive Player of the Week Shelby Judkins and fellow seniors Jordan Snider and Chelsea Hines have clamped down on the opposing attacks.

Stellar on the offensive end as well, Belle Tunstall is one of only three Captains in program history with at least 10 assists and 10 goals in the same season. Along with the junior speedster, Lauren Cheatham leads the squad with 12 goals, while Kelsey Clark has 10. Marlene Lichty has also contributed 11 points, including the game-winner against Salisbury.

Not to be overlooked, Taylor Young also has 11 points for the Captains, and Allie Hackbarth has 10, including four assists. Snider has also dished out five helpers for CNU, while Judkins has chipped in with four.

Off to a 6-8 start this year, Wilson has captured three of its last four contests, including a 3-2 win at Washington & Lee two weeks ago. The program is quite familiar with the Captains after facing CNU four times in recent years. Christopher Newport is 4-0 in those contests, including a tight 2-1 overtime victory last season.

Wilson has been led by Hillary Swartz, who has a team-high eight goals this year. Megan Schneck has also scored seven times for the Phoenix, and Gina Weigold has anchored the defense with a .716 save percentage and a 3.03 goals-against-average.

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