NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The nationally-ranked Christopher Newport men's soccer team will open up the 2017 season at home on Friday night, taking on Regent University at 7:30 pm as part of the Joe Pombriant/CNU Soccer Classic. The Captains will also face off against No. 24 Washington & Lee University on Saturday at 7:30 pm, while Greensboro College serves as the tournament's third team and will play at 5:00 pm on both days.
The Christopher Newport Department of Athletics intends on providing live video coverage as well as live statistics for all four matches at Captains Field this weekend, but with the threat of poor weather in the Hampton Roads area, fans should stay tuned to CNUsports.com and follow @CNUathletics on Twitter for updates as they are made available. Links to all the action can be found at CNUsports.com/live or on the CNU schedule page.
Game one of the tournament will feature Greensboro versus Washington & Lee at 5:00 pm on Friday, followed by the Captains' season opener at 7:30 pm. The Joe Pombriant/CNU Soccer Classic will then continue at 5:00 pm Saturday as Greensboro takes on Regent, followed by CNU taking on the Generals at 7:30 pm.
The Captains will return to the pitch for the first time after a 18-3-1 finish to last season that saw CNU reach the NCAA Tournament for the 10th time in program history. Led by the dean of CNU head coaches,
Steve Shaw, the Captains will be playing under their helmsman for the 22nd straight year. Shaw is just two wins shy of 300 for his career after compiling a 298-99-35 overall record for a winning percentage of .730.
A veteran squad will return in 2017, with high expectations for success during the year. With the return of fifth-year senior and first team All-American
Jimmy Grace, the Captains feature a dynamic weapon on attack that finished 2016 as Conference Player of the Year. Joining Grace as a potent goal scorer is junior
Stephen Durbin, who burst onto the Captains' scene last year to the tune of 28 points on 11 goals and six assists. With the aforementioned pair, nine total starters return to Captains Field with an eye on another run to the postseason. In the midfield, All-State selection
Andrew Gogolin will return for his senior campaign, and on defense, junior
Bobby Seifert, an All-Conference pick, will anchor the back line as the team's leader in minutes in each of his first two years.
On Friday, the Captains will face Regent University from the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA) for the first time in program history. On Saturday, CNU will take on a Washington & Lee program that reached the NCAA Tournament last season. The Generals and Captains have only faced off three times in program history, with CNU owning a slight 2-1 advantage in the all-time series.
Washington & Lee is ranked in the top 25 to start the year and was picked to win the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in the preseason coaches poll. Returning five All-Conference performers, the Generals are led by ODAC Player of the Year Dylan Ritch. Ritch started every game and led the team with 30 points last season.
