NFHCA Poll
Live Stats // Video Stream

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Entering the Capital Athletic Conference Tournament on an 11-game winning streak, the Christopher Newport field hockey team remained fifth in the latest NFHCA National Coaches Poll and will host Mary Washington in the CAC Semifinals at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Captains Turf Field.
 
Holding steady in the national poll for the third straight week, the Captains earned 682 points in the rankings. Messiah remains the country's top-ranked team after picking up 38 first-place votes, while Middlebury, Babson, TCNJ, and CNU round out the top-five.
 
Following an 11-day layoff since wrapping up the regular season, Christopher Newport enters the postseason with a 15-1 record. The squad secured the No. 1 seed in the postseason after finishing with a pristine 6-0 mark in league play. Meanwhile, Mary Washington is the No. 4 seed and carries an 11-7 record after upending St. Mary's (Md.), 7-1, in the opening round of the CAC Tournament on Sunday.
 
Tickets for Wednesday's game are $5 for adults and $3 for students and children. They can be purchased at the front gate prior to the contest. Only cash will be accepted.
 
For those fans unable to make it to the game, CNU will provide live stats and a video stream of the action at CNUsports.com. Direct links to both features can be found at the top of this release and on the CNU schedule page.
 
Christopher Newport enters the playoffs ranked fourth in the NCAA with a 0.63 goals-against-average. Featuring a back line anchored by Brittan Muir, Mackenzie Neylon, and Alexa Weaver, the Captains have allowed just 6.2 shots per game during the year. Meanwhile, Stephanie McKinney has starred between the pipes as the senior stands 10th in the NCAA with an outstanding .831 save percentage.
 
On the other side of the ball, Rachael Allshouse slots fourth in the conference with 13 goals and 30 points. Courtney Fiest also leads the league with nine assists, while Courtnie Greene ranks second with eight helpers. All three standouts have been honored as the CAC Offensive Player of the Week for their efforts during the year.
 
As a team, the Captains rank 21st in the nation with a 3.56 goals-per-game average. The squad also sits ninth in the nation in scoring margin as CNU has out-scored its opposition by an average of 2.94 goals per contest.
 
Mary Washington comes into the midweek showdown on a roll after storming past St. Mary's (Md.) in the first round of the conference tournament. Lauren Hopkins registered a hat-trick against the Seahawks after adding a three-point showcase in the regular season finale against Wesley. For her efforts, the sophomore was honored as the CAC Offensive Player of the Week.
 
Overall this season, the Eagles have been led by a potent attack that ranks fifth in the NCAA with a 4.17 goals-per-game average. Hopkins leads the team and ranks second in the CAC with 14 goals and 32 points, while Allegra Massey-Elim is tied for second in the league with eight assists. On the defensive side, Jessica Cavolt sits third in the conference with a .783 save percentage and a 1.43 goals-against-average.
 
CNU and UMW have already met once this year with the Captains registering a 3-2 victory in Fredericksburg on October 4. The Eagles held a 2-1 lead midway through the second half before Weaver converted a penalty stroke to even the score before Fiest added the clincher with three minutes remaining in regulation. On the other side, Izzy Scholz and Madison Healy both scored for Mary Washington, while Cavolt contributed 11 saves.
 
Overall, Christopher Newport holds a 13-6 lead in the all-time series against Mary Washington. This also marks the third meeting between the two programs in the CAC Tournament. The Eagles won a semifinal bout last year in Newport News, and the Captains notched a win during the second round of the 2014 playoffs in Fredericksburg.
 
The winner of Wednesday's contest will advance to the CAC Championship on Saturday for a battle against the survivor of the Salisbury - York (Pa.) showdown.
 
---CNU---