NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- As a successful non-conference schedule is nearing completion, the Christopher Newport women's soccer team will now shift focus toward defense of their regular season conference title, starting with a 1:00 pm game versus Wesley College on Saturday, September 27. The Captains (4-2-2, 0-0-0) and Wolverines (7-1-0, 0-0-0) will kick off the Capital Athletic Conference schedule as part of Family Weekend on the campus of CNU, with live stats and a live video webcast available. 

CNU has just one non-conference tilt left on the schedule later this season and has its sights set high on a return trip to the CAC postseason tournament in 2014. Second year head coach Dan Weiler will navigate the Captains through a strong league schedule starting with Saturday's home contest against a team that has lost just one game so far this season. 

The game is just the second in the all-time series between the two programs, with CNU capturing a 1-0 win in last year's first ever matchup. Both teams feature potent offensive attacks in 2014, including the ninth-ranked scoring offense in the nation by Wesley. Already this season, the Wolverines have scored 34 goals in just eight games, averaging over four goals per contest. 

The veteran Wesley squad is led by a pair of senior midfielders, as Christina Verzi has poured in five goals and four assists while Chelsi Biener has added five goals and two assists. Four players are in double figure scoring for the Wolverines, while the defense has stifled opponents to just six goals scored and a 0.76 goals against average. In goal, rookie Nasia Denegal has started seven games and has an impressive 82.9% save percentage. 

The Captains will come into the game tested already this season, facing two nationally-ranked programs as part of a litany of solid regional foes in the opening slate. A young nucleus for the home team has been exception in the early going, primarily led by sophomore Victoria Perry. After tying for the team lead in assists as a freshman, Perry has returned to the pitch with a feverish scoring pace to start the season. She leads the league with 20 points, scoring nine goals and chipping in a pair of assists in the first eight games. The second-year forward has also scored all four game-winning goals for CNU, ranking fourth nationally in that category, and has a pair of hat tricks. 

The defense is allowing just over a goal per game, but has pitched three shutouts with rookie Carly Maglio between the pipes. In four starts, Maglio has a 1.14 GAA with a save percentage over 73%. 

For fans who can't attend Saturday afternoon's game, a live video webcast is available on the women's soccer schedule at CNUsports.com. Live stats and live video can be found at CNUsports.com/live. 

Following Saturday's contest, the Captains will head out on the road to take on York College (Pa.) next Saturday, October 4 in a re-match of the 2013 CAC Championship Game.