VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- For the third straight game to open the 2017 season, the Christopher Newport women's soccer team will make the trek across the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel to the campus of Virginia Wesleyan University. On Tuesday evening, the Captains will take on the host Marlins at 7:30 pm after playing in the season-opening tournament at Foster Field over the weekend. 

CNU opened up the year 2-0-0 in a pair of neutral site contests at Virginia Wesleyan, downing 5th-ranked Trinity (Texas) in double overtime, 1-0, and then handing Catholic a 6-1 loss in the second game. Next up on the schedule are the Marlins (0-2-0), who battled against the nationally-ranked Trinity squad before falling, 2-1, in their last matchup. 

Live stats for Tuesday night's contest will available at game time, with the direct link found on the women's soccer schedule. 

CNU will look to open the season with three straight victories for just the fifth time in program history and will be taking on the Marlins for the 19th time. Virginia Wesleyan holds an 12-6-1 advantage in the all-time series. 

This weekend, the Captains paired a strong offensive showing, with 7 goals scored in two games, and a stifling defensive presence, with one goal allowed, to take a 2-0-0 start to the season. Kayla Locklear scored the game-winning goal in double overtime against Trinity, and then added an assist on the game-winning goal against Catholic. Rookie Riley Cook also added a pair of goals to help lead the offense for CNU, while four more Captains picked up their first goal of the season. 

Defensively, rookie Alexi Manley registered her first career assist while helping the CNU back line lock down for nearly 200 minutes of action. Senior goalkeeper Carly Maglio earned a shutout and made nine saves in the first two games, while Danielle Pratt, Keiley McCarthy, and Shaye Doherty all helped Manley anchor the stingy back line. 

The Marlins opened up with an 0-2 start after suffering a 4-0 loss to Catholic in the opener before the 2-1 setback to Trinity. VWC registered 27 shots in the two games of action, but only managed to find the back of the net once, when sophomore Alex Davidson scored against the Tigers. A pair of sophomore goalkeepers have combined for the 180 minutes, with Taylor Chapman got both starts.