NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- While the rest of Christopher Newport's fall sports are on the road this weekend, the women's soccer program will play host to Penn State Harrisburg (5-5-0, 1-0-0) in league action on Saturday, at 1:00 pm. The Captains (6-2-1, 1-0-0) will and Lions will both be playing in just their second ever Capital Athletic Conference matchup, as both programs joined the league in 2013.
The game will be presented in a live video webcast and live stats will also be available at CNUsports.com.
The Captains are coming off their first ever CAC victory last Saturday as they traveled to Marymount University for a 4-0 win. Senior
Bupe Okeowo led the way, scoring the game-winning goal and adding a pair of assists against the Saints. She ranks second on the team in points so far this season, with 12 on five goals and two assists.
Senior
Emma O'Reilly has scored a team-high 17 points, posting eight goals and an assist in the first nine games. The Captains' all-time leader in scoring is nearing the 100-point plateau with 96 in her career on six assists and a record 45 career goals.
Defensively, rookie
Haley Casanova has posted four solo shutouts and combined on a fifth, leading a CNU garrison that has allowed just seven goals so far this season. The starting back line of
Erin O'Shaughnessy,
Abby Johnson,
Sam Rabinek and
Kelsey Thomas has held opponents to just 5.4 shots on-goal per game.
The Captains will take on a Penn State Harrisburg team that surged out to a 4-1 start, but has hit a bit of a skid with four losses in their last five games. The Lions have been outscored 19-0 in their last three games, including a 9-0 setback in their CAC opener at Frostburg State on Wednesday. Junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Gates has a league-leading 74 saves, but has allowed a 2.74 goals against average.
Offensively, sophomore Fay Ansary has been impressive, scoring six goals in eight games played. Kara Hoy has added four goals and an assist for a nine-point start to the season.
Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm at Captains Field for the first matchup in history between the two programs.
