NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Coming into the postseason ranked fourth in the nation, the Christopher Newport field hockey team will look to continue its successful campaign on Saturday as CNU kicks off the NCAA Tournament at 11 a.m. with a Sweet 16 showdown against Centre at Captains Turf Field.

Entering the playoffs with a 19-1 record, Christopher Newport earned an at-large bid after claiming the Capital Athletic Conference regular season championship before finishing second during the CAC Tournament last weekend. Centre, who enters Saturday with a 16-4 record, earned its spot in the Sweet 16 after upending Lynchburg during the first round on Wednesday.

Not only will Captains Turf Field host CNU's second-round match-up, but it will also serve as the site of the Catholic-DePauw tilt at 2 p.m. The winners of Saturday's games will square off in the Elite Eight on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Tickets for this weekend's games are $5 for adults and $3 for children and senior citizens. Fans can also follow along with the action on-line with live stats and a web stream at CNUsports.com. Direct links to both features can be found on the CNU schedule page.

Rolling through the regular season, the Captains have set several program records already this season, including new benchmarks for victories (19), goals (81), and points (211). Just as stout on the defensive end, Christopher Newport ranks fourth in the nation in goals-against-average and save percentage.

Electric on offense, junior Belle Tunstall was honored as the CAC Co-Player of the Year after leading the conference with 18 goals and 57 points. Fellow first-team All-Conference selection Lauren Cheatham also has 13 goals this season, while Kelsey Clark ranks third on the team with 27 points. The three standouts have combined for 11 game-winning goals as well.

Shelby Judkins has helped anchor the back line with three defensive saves, while Jordan Snider and Chelsea Hines have totaled 11 stops. Fittingly, all three seniors received All-CAC honors with Judkins earning first-team accolades and Snider and Hines securing second-team nods. Midfielders Marlene Lichty and Allie Hackbarth also earned All-Conference accolades as well.

Tremendous in the cage for the Captains, Bailey Lien has burst onto the scene as a true freshman. She enters the postseason as the only goalie in the NCAA to rank among the top-five in goals-against-average and save percentage. She has already set a new program-record for victories with 18, while her five shutouts are the third-most in a single-season in CNU history.

After taking down No. 20 Lynchburg, 1-0, during an overtime thriller on Wednesday, Centre earned its first trip to the NCAA Sweet 16 in program history. During their first-round bout, the Colonels picked up six saves from Kirby Roberts before Julia Gates added the game-winner early in the first bonus period to seal the victory.

Gates has been one of the team's top offensive threats with nine goals and three assists this season. Centre has also received big contributions from a pair of seniors as Alexis Hebert and Courtney Kuiper each have over 30 points this year. Hebert leads the squad with 15 goals, while Kuiper has 10 assists.

Equally successful on the defensive end, Centre has been led by Roberts, who has posted six shutouts this season. The first-year standout also has a .725 save percentage and a 1.24 goals-against-average to go along with her 16-4 record.

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