SALISBURY, Md. -- The 13th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team will kick off the Capital Athletic Conference Tournament on Wednesday at 6 p.m. when the Captains travel to No. 7 Salisbury for the CAC Semifinals at Sea Gull Stadium.
Entering the postseason, CNU sits at 13-3 with a 5-1 mark in conference action. Meanwhile, Salisbury is 12-3 overall with an identical 5-1 record in league play. Both squads finished in a tie with Mary Washington for a share of the CAC regular season championship, but due to league tiebreakers, the Sea Gulls are the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, while the Captains are No. 3.
A LOOK AT THE CAPTAINS Christopher Newport wrapped up the regular season ranked 12th in the NCAA with a 0.97 goals-against-average. The squad also stands first in the CAC and 27th in the country with an .814 save percentage. Equally impressive on the offensive end, CNU's attack ranks 25th nationally with a 3.31 goals-per-game mark.
On an individual level,
Bailey Lien is 20th in the country with a 1.11 goals-against-average.
Brittan Muir has also been outstanding on the back line, registering four defensive saves. The freshman has been just as effective on the offensive side with five goals and five assists. She is currently one of just six players in the country - and the only freshman - to have at least four goals, four assists, and four defensive saves during the year.
Anchoring a well-balanced attack,
Lauren Cheatham leads the team with 22 points and eight assists, while
Carol Thompson boasts a team-high eight goals.
Alexa Weaver has also scored six times for the Captains, while
Lisa Murphy and
Mackenzie Neylon have four goals apiece.
Courtnie Greene has also been a tremendous addition to the offense, starting each of the last five games, including a three-point outburst against Frostburg State on October 24.
LAST TIME OUT In the regular season finale, Christopher Newport dropped a hard-fought 3-2 double-overtime decision to Salisbury at Captains Turf Field on Wednesday evening. During the contest, Murphy and Cheatham scored for CNU, while
Cori Black assisted on both goals. Lien added 13 saves as well.
SCOUTING THE SEA GULLS Salisbury features an equally stingy defensive unit as the Sea Gulls rank ninth in the NCAA with a 0.76 goals-against-average. Just as impressive on the offensive end, SU is 15th in the country with a 3.67 goals-per-game mark. The team is also able to draw penalty corners at an impressive rate, ranking third nationally with a 15.07 corners-per-game clip.
On an individual level, Tressie Windsor is 12th in the country with a 0.82 goals-against-average. Amanda Cooper also boasts a team-high four defensive saves. On the offensive end, Courtney Jantzen and Becca Rinaca are tied for the team-lead with 10 goals apiece, while Sam Johnson has 24 points, including six assists.
SERIES HISTORY Salisbury and CNU have met 18 times with the Sea Gulls holding a 15-3 edge in the series. SU has won four straight decisions dating back to the 2013 regular season meeting between the two programs.
UP NEXT The winner of Wednesday's contest will advance to the CAC Championship Game, which will take place on Saturday. Time and location will be determined based upon the advancing teams. Top-seeded Mary Washington will host No. 4 York (Pa.) in the other CAC semifinal contest on Wednesday.
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