HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Christopher Newport women's soccer team is back in action on Saturday, October 11 as they travel to Penn State Harrisburg (5-6-0, 1-2-0) for a conference matchup at 4:00 pm. The Captains (7-2-2, 3-0-0) will be looking to add to a modest three-game winning streak while the Lions are trying to get back in the win column after a pair of losses in league play to Salisbury and Southern Virginia. 

Under the direction of second-year head coach Dan Weiler, the Captains boast an impressive 10-1 overall record in Capital Athletic Conference regular season action. This will be just the second all-time matchup between the two programs, as CNU captured a 6-0 victory at home over Penn State Harrisburg last season. 

Following Saturday's contest, the Captains will then travel for the final non-conference game of the season on Sunday, October 12, taking on Elizabethtown (7-3-0, 1-1-0) at 2:00 pm. The Blue Jays are a potent offensive team, averaging 3.30 goals per game through the first ten contests. 

CNU also has leaned heavily on a terrific offense this season, led by sophomore Victoria Perry, tied for second in league scoring with 21 points. Seniors Sarah Perrett and Joy Piirto rank second and third on the team in scoring as Perrett has delivered six goals for 12 points while Piirto is coming off a two-goal performance to get her up to nine points on the season with four goals and an assist. 

The defense has also been stellar, picking up five shutouts and allowing more than a goal in only two games so far this season. A pair of goalkeepers have a near even split of the time in net so far this season as sophomore Haley Casanova and rookie Carly Maglio have both done a strong job between the posts. Casanova, in five starts, has over a 79% save percentage with a goals against average of 0.84, while Maglio, in six starts, boasts a 1.00 GAA with a 75% save percentage. Both are assisted by a young, but strong defense in front of them, as senior Kelsey Thomas is joined by rookies Carly Melkus and Kira Warner, and sophomore Sam Rabinek, the reigning CAC Rookie of the Year.

Penn State Harrisburg enters this weekend riding an up-and-down year, failing to capture back-to-back wins yet this season. Senior Hannah Jorich and junior Rachel Shetler have each scored four goals to lead the Lions offensively, but the league foe has managed just 14 goals in their first 11 games. Defensively, senior Mackenzie Gates has made 69 saves for the Lions with a 2.80 GAA. 

The regionally-ranked Blue Jays of Elizabethtown College are a constant offensive threat, led by four players in double figure scoring. Junior midfielder Kaceyanne Cerankowski leads the group with 17 points on eight goals and one assist, while sophomore Maddie Burkhardt (5g, 4a), junior Lauren Berry (4g, 4a) and junior Trisha Clark (3g, 5a) have all helped pace the strong attack. Elizabethtown is coming off a pair of big wins, dropping Goucher, 6-2, and Washington College (Md.), 4-1, in their last two games.

The Blue Jays are ranked eighth in the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Rankings this week, while CNU picked up a No. 6 nod in the South Atlantic rankings. Live stats will be available for Sunday's game, with recaps of both contests available at CNUsports.com.