VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- For the first time in program history, the fourth-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team will compete in the NCAA Final Four as the Captains prepare to battle fifth-ranked Bowdoin in the national semifinals on Friday at 11 a.m. at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex.

In the midst of the finest season in CNU history, the Captains enter the game with a 21-1 record while boasting the nation's top winning percentage with a .955 mark. Bowdoin comes in with a 16-3 record after toppling New Paltz and Montclair State to earn a berth in the Final Four.

Going forward, the winner of Friday's semifinal match-up will square off against the survivor of the Salisbury – Skidmore tilt, which will be played at 2 p.m. on Friday. The championship bout will take place at Old Dominion's LR Hill Complex on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

Hardly familiar with one another, Christopher Newport and Bowdoin have never faced each other in field hockey. The two programs also have no common opponents in 2013. Both squads earned at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament after falling in overtime during their respective conference title games.

Tickets will be $25 for admission to all games throughout the Final Four or $20 for a single-day ticket. Youth can purchase an all-sessions pass for $20 or a single-day ticket for $15. Passes will be sold on the day of the games and can be purchased with cash only.

For fans unable to make it to Virginia Beach, the games will also be streamed live on NCAA.com.

On a bit of a roll, Christopher Newport posted a pair of 1-0 victories over Centre and No. 17 Catholic last weekend to earn a berth in the Final Four. The Captains are the only team in the postseason to record two shutouts during the playoffs.

Really strong on the defensive end throughout the season, CNU ranks third in the nation with a 0.71 goals-against-average and fourth with an .853 save percentage. The team has also come through with 11 shutouts during the year, which marks the most in a single-season in program history. Three of those blankings have come against top-20 opponents, including back-to-back shutouts against No. 13 Lynchburg and No. 11 DePauw in September.

Tremendous in the cage for the Captains, Bailey Lien leads the country with a 0.61 goals-against-average and set a new NCAA freshman record with her 20th victory in the Elite Eight. She has been helped on the defensive end by All-Conference selections Shelby Judkins, Chelsea Hines, and Jordan Snider, who have stabilized the back line for CNU.

Hines is currently tied for the program-record with eight defensive saves this year, including three during the postseason. Snider also has five stops for the Captains, while Judkins has been just as effective on the offensive end after scoring both of the team's goals last weekend.

Anchoring the team's offensive attack, Belle Tunstall was named the NFHCA South Region Player of the Year and currently leads the Capital Athletic Conference with 18 goals and 47 points. Fellow All-Region selection Lauren Cheatham has also found the back of the cage 13 times, while Kelsey Clark is tied with Judkins for third on the team with 27 points.

The Captains have also benefited from an outstanding midfield unit, led by first-team All-Region honoree Marlene Lichty. The fourth-year standout has seven goals and five assists, while Allie Hackbarth sits second on the squad with seven helpers. Alexa Hendrickson has been a key contributor as well, starting all 22 games in her second season at CNU.

Impressive offensively, Bowdoin enters the Final Four ranked among the top-five nationally in goals-, assists-, and points-per-game. Overall, the Polar Bears have averaged 4.47 goals per contest, which ranks third in the NCAA. The squad has also out-scored its opposition by nearly 3.5 goals per game, which stands as the best mark in the country.

Not to be overlooked, Bowdoin's defense also sits 13th in the country with a 1.10 goals-against-average and has collected eight shutouts in 2013. In the Elite Eight, the squad blanked No. 1 Montclair State, 1-0, while limiting the Red Hawks to just seven shots last Sunday.

Coming into Friday's contest, Katie Riley leads the Polar Bears and ranks 11th nationally with a 2.84 points-per-game average. The senior forward has 19 goals and 16 assists, highlighted by a hat-trick against New Paltz in the Sweet 16. Sophomore Rachel Kennedy has also scored 18 times, while Emily Simonton has 14 goals.

Hannah Gartner has anchored Bowdoin's defensive efforts, posting a .746 save percentage and a 0.98 goals-against-average. Kelsey Mullaney also has four defensive saves for the Polar Bears, and Meghan Dwan and Colleen Finnerty have each contributed a pair as well.

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