NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- This weekend, the eighth-ranked Christopher Newport men's soccer program will host the Annual Joe Pombriant/CNU Classic, starting with a doubleheader on Friday night. First, Neumann University will face off against Wesley College at 5:00 pm, followed by the nationally-ranked Captains (1-0-0) taking on cross-water rival Virginia Wesleyan at 7:30 pm. Live stats and video will be available of both games. 

The tournament will continue on Sunday, September 6 in two locations; the Captains will host Neumann at 1:00 pm at Captains Field, while Wesley will travel to Virginia Wesleyan for a 1:00 pm kick-off in Virginia Beach. 

The first game of the day on Friday features the Wolverines of Wesley College (0-1-0), fellow member of the Capital Athletic Conference, taking on the Neumann Knights (0-0-0). Wesley was picked to finish eighth in the CAC Preseason Coaches Poll after posting an overall record of 8-8-1 last season. Team captains R.J. Dina and Tobi Sowande return in 2015 to lead the way for the Wolverines, while leading scorer Will Mileski is also back. 

Neumann, who CNU will face at 1:00 pm on Sunday, will open its season this weekend in the CNU Classic. The Knights were picked to win the Colonial States Athletic Conference in a preseason coaches poll, coming off a 10-9-2 season capped off by a conference championship. After capturing the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament via PK shootout in the CSAC Championship Game, the Knights fell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Seven-year assistant coach Tim Hollenback took over the head coaching duties for his first season in 2015.

The hotly contested rivarly with Virginia Wesleyan will reignite on Friday night, as CNU takes on the Marlins for the 41st time. Last season, CNU dropped Virginia Wesleyan on the road, 2-0, and all three players who factored into those two tallies return for the Captains in 2015. Patrick Burns netted the game-winner on an assist by Sebastian Abrigo and Garrett Van Nutt added the insurance goal on an assist by Burns. 

This season, the Marlins opened the year with a 4-0 win over Southern Virginia at home, scoring twice in each half against the Knights. VWC lost leading scorers Isaac Arrington and Chris Cooke, but returns three-quarters of its defense and a dominant goalkeeper in senior Connor Kirkham. Kirkham allowed just 15 goals in 19 games last season for a 0.75 goals against average. 

The Captains opened up the season with a 1-0 win at Randolph College, getting a late goal from Burns to sneak past the WildCats. The goal came off a corner kick by All-Region midfielder Harry Nodwell with less than three minutes to go in the game. Burns kicked off 2015 on the right foot after a breakout sophomore season that saw him score 12 goals and register 12 assists for 36 points. Defensively, the new look back line stood tall despite graduating three senior, allowing just three total shots. 

Live stats will be available for all three games hosted by Christopher Newport. A live video webcast will be available for both games on Friday.