BALTIMORE, Md. -- Playing at Homewood Field on the campus of Johns Hopkins University, the Christopher Newport women's soccer team will make the team's ninth NCAA Tournament appearance on Saturday, November 12, against 19th-ranked Rowan University. Kickoff for the Captains' opener is set for 7:30 pm, following the host Blue Jays' action against Western Connecticut State expected to begin at 5:00 pm. 

Johns Hopkins has released a tournament website, with links to stats, rosters, video and more being updated throughout the weekend's events. Fans can find that site here, or by browsing directly to: http://www.hopkinssports.com/sports/w-soccer/2016_NCAA_Regional.html

The Captains will enter the Saturday evening matchup with an overall record of 16-2-1, marking the finest single season record in program history. They will face a Rowan squad that boasts a 16-1-2 overall record, including seven wins in their last nine games. 

Both teams are ranked in the D3soccer.com National Top 25, with Rowan slotted in at No. 11 and the Captains sitting at No. 20. Both teams won their respective conference championships, as CNU captured the program's first ever Capital Athletic Conference title while the Profs went on the road to win the New Jersey Athletic Conference, taking down previously undefeated TCNJ in the title bout. This is the third NCAA Tournament appearance under current head coach Dan Weiler for the Captains, and CNU is seeking its first tournament win since the 2004 run to the Elite Eight. Rowan is making the program's 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, missing only once since the 2005 season. 

Both teams feature dynamite defensive groups, ranking in the top 20 nationally in goals-aginst average. CNU is 16th with a 0.36 GAA, and the Captains' back line has only gotten better as the season went on. Over the last 13 games, the CNU defense has allowed just four goals, posting nine of the team's record 12 shutouts in that span. The Profs rank 8th nationally in GAA, with a 0.26 mark, and have 16 shutouts in 19 games played this season. 

Leading the way for CNU's back line is CAC Rookie of the Year Keiley McCarthy and fellow first team All-Conference back Danielle Pratt. The two are joined by freshman Shaye Doherty and junior Kira Warner, locking down opponents to fewer than eight shots per game. Junior goalkeeper Carly Maglio is having a record-setting campaign between the pipes, playing in every minute of the season in goal to help lead CNU to team records in wins and shutouts. 

Rowan featured first team All-NJAC defender Emily Daigle, playing in front of the Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, Shelby Money. Money ranks eighth in the nation in save percentage and boasts a 0.29 goals-against average for the Profs, with 12 shutouts. 

On the offensive end, CNU will look to senior first team All-Conference forward Victoria Perry, who is the program's all-time leading scorer and leads the Captains in scoring again this season with 28 points (8g, 12a). Rookie Carson Pokorny isn't far behind in her first season with 18 points on five goals and eight assists, while the deep CNU offense features six players in double figure scoring. Rowan is similar in style, with two players at the top of the scoring chart in Maxine New (28 pts) and Shannon Reardigan (26 pts), and five toatl players in double figure scoring. 

Live video and live stats will be available for all three matches in Baltimore as host Johns Hopkins will stream games for free online.