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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Preseason is over and the anticipation continues to mount for the Christopher Newport men's soccer program, all set to open the season at home this weekend, taking on Greensboro College and Allegheny College as part of the 2016 Joe Pombriant/CNU Soccer Classic. Three of the four games in the annual tournament will be played at Captains Field, including Friday evening's season opener for the Captains against the Pride of Greensboro College at 7:30 p.m.

Christopher Newport and former conference rival Greensboro will take the field immediately following the tournament opener pitting Virginia Wesleyan College against Allegheny College at 5:30 p.m. On Sunday, September 4, the tournament continues with 1:00 p.m. games on both CNU and Virginia Wesleyan campuses, as the teams trade opponents and CNU will face the Allegheny Gators for the first time in program history. 

Live stats will be available for all three games on CNU's campus, and live video will be presented for the Captains' home games. Links can be found at CNUsports.com/live or by following the schedule links at CNUsports.com. 

Head coach Steve Shaw will open his 21st season at the helm of CNU men's soccer at home, looking for a return trip to the NCAA Tournament after narrowly missing the 2015 postseason. The Captains are very familiar with their season-opening foe, as CNU has played more games against the Pride than any other team in program history. Having played for decades as members of the same conference, it is also one of the most competitive battles in program history, featuring a 22-22-4 all-time record between the two programs. On the other end of the spectrum, CNU's second game of the year will be against the Allegheny Gators, a team the Captains have never faced. 

Just one year removed from a run at the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, the Captains will feature a veteran group throughout the lineup. Two-time All-Region midfielder Harry Nodwell returns for his final season, while senior Jimmy Grace, an All-Conference midfielder, is also back after missing his entire junior year to injury. On the attacking side of the ball, senior Patrick Burns earned first team All-Conference honors in back-to-back seasons after leading the Captains' offense with 21 goals and 15 assists in that stretch. 

Heading into the year, however, it appears the strength of the Captains lies in their back line, which returns three of four starters for a group that posted the second lowest goals against average in program history last season. Despite the loss of All-Conference center back Sean Christein, the stingy defense appears to be just as strong with Nodwell sliding back, joining sophomore Bobby Seifert, junior Zach Douglass and senior Sammy Blosser. In goal, CNU graduated Nolan Mann, but rookie Zach Pedini got valuable experience in six games last season, including four starts, while senior Sam Lesko is also back after starting 17 games in 2014. 

The Captains season opener will come against Greensboro, coming off a 14-5-1 season a year ago. CNU won't have to deal with leading scorer Shaun Watt after the senior scored 47 points last season, but two of the top three scorers are back as Carlos Barragan (10g, 6a) and Craig Gage (6g, 8a) lead the way. Jaime Payamps, who started all 20 games last season, will return to goal again in 2016 after posting a 1.17 goals against average last year. As CNU turns focus to game two against Allegheny, the Captains will be facing a veteran team returning 89% of its goal scoring from last season. There are 12 seniors listed on the roster, including Aaron Donahoe, who scored five goals last season. 

Following the opening weekend against Greensboro and Allegheny, the Captains will host N.C. Wesleyan College on Wednesday, September 7 before hitting the road next weekend to face Virginia Wesleyan College on the 10th.