NEWPORT NEWS, Va -- After a win over the defending national champion Lynchburg Hornets, the voters at D3soccer.com took notice, moving the Christopher Newport women's soccer team into the Top 25 this week. CNU also vaulted to fifth in the NSCAA South Atlantic Regional Rankings released on Tuesday and will host a pivotal Capital Athletic Conference matchup on Wednesday, October 21 against Salisbury University (10-3-1, 4-1-1). Kick off is scheduled tentatively for 7:00 pm, as the second game of a doubleheader with the men's teams.
Live stats and a live video webcast will be available of the crucial conference matchup, with massive playoff implications for both teams. CNU enters the contest atop the league standings with an 11-3-1 overall record and 5-1-0 mark in conference play, riding a season best six-game winning streak. Against the Sea Gulls, the Captains own a 10-5-1 advantage in the all-time series, including three wins over the last two seasons.
Christopher Newport will look to maintain its stellar play, averaging over three goals per game in the current win streak while also posting three shutouts. In goal, two-time defending CAC Defensive Player of the Week
Carly Maglio has been leading the way, posting a 7-2 record and 0.91 GAA in nine starts this season. Offensively, junior
Victoria Perry continues to climb the all-time scoring charts at CNU with another banner season at forward. She ranks fifth all-time with 72 career points and is just three points shy of her second consecutive 30-point season, a feat only accomplished twice in program history (Laura McFerrin in 1999/2000 & Emily Renkin in 2004/2005). The consistent scoring threat has had at least one point in all but four games this season.
The other scoring leaders for CNU are junior
Allie McWilliams, who has a league-leading seven assists paired with two goals for 11 points, and senior
Lindsay Mondloch with two goals and six assists for 10 points. Rookie
Gabby Gillis, coming off a sensational performance against the Hornets, ranks fourth on the team with four goals and one assist. Gillis scored two goals, including the game-winning goal, against Lynchburg, becoming the first player since 2006 to notch two goals in a game against the nationally-ranked Hornets.
Wednesday's matchup will feature a pair of the league's finest goalkeepers, as Alesha Seifert has started the last four games for the Sea Gulls, taking over the league lead in goals against average. In over 475 minutes this season, Seifert has allowed just two goals for a 0.38 GAA, while splitting time with senior Hope Knussman, who also owns a sub-1.00 GAA. Offensively, Jenna DeLetto leads the Salisbury squad with 13 points, while Samantha Beck has added 11 points as a top option as well. Third year head coach Kwame Lloyd, former helmsman of the CNU women's soccer and women's lacrosse programs, has guided the Sea Gulls to 10 wins in each of his first three seasons.
The game is scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm, immediately following the men's matchup set for 5:00 pm. Live stats and video will be available at CNUsports.com/live.
