Live Stats // Video Stream

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport field hockey team will kick off the postseason on Wednesday at 6 p.m. when CNU hosts Mary Washington in the Capital Athletic Conference semifinals at Captains Turf Field.
 
Entering the playoffs, Christopher Newport boasts a 14-4 record, including a 4-2 mark in league action. Mary Washington comes in with an 11-5 record and an identical 4-2 ledger in the CAC. Both squads earned first-round byes in the postseason after CNU locked up the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, while the Eagles secured the No. 3 spot.
 
Tickets for Wednesday's game are $5 for adults and $3 for children.
 
For those fans unable to make it to the game, live stats and a video stream of the action will be available at CNUsports.com. Direct links to both features can be found at the top of this release and on the CNU schedule page.
 
A LOOK AT THE CAPTAINS
 
Christopher Newport currently has the nation's third-ranked scoring defense as the Captains have limited the opposition to just 0.66 goals per game. The team also sits fifth in the NCAA with an .855 save percentage and fourth with nine shutouts. Incredibly, CNU has accomplished that feat while facing a daunting schedule, which has included five of the nation's top-15 ranked scoring offenses.
 
On an individual level, Bailey Lien is the reigning CAC Defensive Player of the Week and sits fourth in the country in goals-against-average (0.72) and seventh in save percentage (.838). She is one of only two goalies in the nation to rank in the top-10 in both categories. Meanwhile, Sarah Miller leads the team with six defensive saves, and Brittan Muir has three.
 
Offensively, Rachael Allshouse is tied for second in the conference with 14 goals and fourth with 32 points. Additionally, Josie Morgan is second on the team with 19 points, while Abby Cryts has 13, including the game-winning goal against Mary Washington in the regular season finale.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
The Captains locked up the No. 2 seed in the CAC playoffs after upending Mary Washington, 1-0, last Wednesday. During that contest, Cryts came through with the game's lone goal after deflecting a laser by Mackenzie Neylon. On the other side, Lien came through with four saves to secure the team's ninth shutout of the year.
 
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
 
Mary Washington has been electric on the offensive side of the ball and currently ranks third in the NCAA with a 4.31 goals-per-game average. The team also sits in the top-10 in the NCAA in assists, points, and scoring margin. Overall, the Eagles have out-scored their opposition by an average of 2.94 goals per contest.
 
Individually, Lauren Hopkins ranks second in the CAC with 39 points, while her 2.44 points-per-game average places her 24th in the NCAA. Along with the team's freshman sensation, Christine Loehr is tied for the conference-lead with 11 assists and ranks third with 33 points. Meanwhile, Jessica Cavolt is second in the league with a .741 save percentage and third with a 1.56 goals-against-average.
 
SERIES HISTORY
 
CNU and Mary Washington have met 17 times with the Captains holding a 12-5 edge in the series, including the 1-0 victory last week.
 
UP NEXT
 
The winner of Wednesday's game will advance to face the survivor of the Salisbury - York (Pa.) contest in the CAC championship game. The title bout will take place on Saturday with the location and time dependent upon Wednesday's outcomes.
 
---CNU---