Live Stats // Video Stream

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Kicking off the 2017 campaign with a busy first week, the Christopher Newport field hockey team will host a pair of games at Captains Turf Field as CNU welcomes Virginia Wesleyan to town for the opener on Friday at 4 p.m. before squaring off with DePauw on Sunday at 11 a.m.
 
For those fans unable to make it to the contests, live stats and a video stream of the action will be available for both games at CNUsports.com/live. Direct links to both features can be found at the top of this release and on the CNU schedule page.
 
Coming off of a 14-5 campaign in 2016, Christopher Newport has high expectations for the new season. The Captains were selected second in the Capital Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll and also received votes in the first National Top-20 Rankings published by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.
 
CNU welcomes back a large contingent from last year's team, which included only two seniors. Six members of the current squad started all 19 games in 2016, while four of the team's top-five leading scorers are back for another year in Newport News. Among the veterans returning in 2017, Rachael Allshouse led the squad with 32 points last year, while Brittan Muir added four defensive saves. Both standouts collected All-Conference, All-State, and All-Region accolades for their efforts.
 
In addition to Allshouse and Muir, Alexa Weaver and Rachel Cooke are also back after decorated campaigns last year. Weaver was a first-team All-Conference pick, while Cooke was a second-team selection as the two anchored a decorated midfield unit. Additionally, Madison Doss, Carol Thompson, and Mackenzie Neylon started all 19 games last season as well.
 
Taking on the Captains on Friday, Virginia Wesleyan is coming off of a 7-11 campaign last year. The Marlins welcome back Skye Swain, who was the team's starting goalkeeper and compiled a .694 save percentage and a 3.19 goals-against-average in 2016. Meanwhile, Lindsy Smarrelli is back after posting four goals during her freshman season, while fellow sophomore Taylor Wilhelm struck three times and finished with seven points last year.
 
On Sunday, DePauw faces the Captains following a neutral-site bout with Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday. The Tigers put together a solid season in 2016, finishing with a 17-4 record, including an 8-1 ledger on the road. The team brings back a host of veterans from last year's team, including All-Region performers Paige Berliner, Maddy Burds, Kate Milner, and Rose Revolinski. Berliner was the team's leading scorer with 21 goals last season, while Milner contributed 15.
 
Familiar foes, Virginia Wesleyan and Christopher Newport have met 12 times with the Captains holding an 8-3 edge in the all-time series. Meanwhile, DePauw and CNU have battled three times with the Captains registering a pair of victories, including a 2-1 triumph last year.
 
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