NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Head coach Steve Shaw and the Christopher Newport University men's soccer team will open the 2014 season at home this weekend, taking on Randolph-Macon College and Whitman College as part of the 2014 Joe Pombriant/CNU Soccer Classic. CNU will take the field at 7:30 pm on both days, following a neutral site contest featuring Lebanon Valley College at 5:00 pm. 

Live stats and a live video webcast will be available for all four contests in the annual classic tournament format, with links found at www.cnusports.com.live

Shaw, entering his 19th season at the helm for CNU, collected milestone win No. 250 with the Captains' final victory of 2013 and will be looking to open the season with win 251. The dean of CNU head coaches, Shaw's success is marked by a 71.8% winning percentage over his illustrious career. Despite missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years in 2013, Shaw still believes expectations should be high for his team in 2014. 

The Captains feature a strong contingent of veteran talent up and down the field, headlined by two-time Conference Player of the Year and All-American Jalon Brown. The senior forward will lead the way offensively after back-to-back 30+ point seasons, while his classmate and counterweight for the Captains, Alec Faulkner, will anchor the defense. Faulkner is a two-time NSCAA All-Region selection as a defender, and will be joined on the back line by fellow seniors Stephen Landry, Tommy O'Neal, and junior Sean Christein. The experienced group will front junior goalkeeper Nolan Mann, and expect to be one of the stingiest defensive units in Shaw's tenure. 

Joining Brown on the top of the offense will be junior Ryan Balfour following a breakout season for the English forward. Balfour scored 22 points last season and scored ten goals, ranking second on the team. In the midfield, CAC Co-Rookie of the Year Jimmy Grace returns along with fellow sophomore Preston Key. Junior Garrett Van Nutt locked down one of the outside spots last season, and with the departure of All-Region middie Caleb Lewis, the Captains have several exciting new options that will see time in the midfield. 

The Captains competition this weekend includes Randolph-Macon, picked tenth in the ODAC Preseason Coaches Poll, and Whitman College. It will be the first time in program history CNU will play the team from Walla Walla, Washington, after the Missionaries finished with a .500 record in 2013. Lebanon Valley College completes the tournament classic format, playing in each days early match. The Dutchmen were 11-8-4 in 2013.