CAMDEN, N.J. -- For the second time in the last three years, the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport men's soccer team will play in the Cialella Soccer Classic, hosted by Rutgers-Camden this weekend. The No. 21 Captains will first face off against Rowan on Saturday at 2:00 pm before taking on the host Scarlet Raptors on Sunday at 4:30 pm. 

All four games of the classic-style tournament will be available to watch on the internet with live statistics also being provided by the home team. For links to live stats or video, browse to the men's soccer schedule on CNUsports.com. 

CNU last played in the tournament in 2015, winning the Cialella Classic championship by going 1-0-1 and winning on a tiebreaker. That was also the last time CNU faced off against Rutgers-Camden, against whom the Captains own a 2-0-1 advantage in the all-time series. Against Rowan, the Captains are 1-0-0, facing the Profs only once, in 2010. 

The Captains are off to a 1-1-0 start this year, with a win over Regent University and a hard-fought setback against nationally-ranked Washington & Lee. CNU was scheduled to play against N.C. Wesleyan College on Wednesday, but after traveling to Rocky Mount, lightning and rain filtered into the area and forced the game's cancellation. 

So far this season, senior All-American Jimmy Grace has led the way with two goals and two assists, while junior Stephen Durbin and sophomore Noah Peizer have each poured in a pair of goals. Rookie defender Davis Pillow has burst onto the scene with one goal and a pair of assists to also help out on the offensive end of the field. 

Rowan is 2-1-0 so far this season and has featured a high-powered offense that has already scored 12 goals in three games. Coming off a 7-0 shutout victory against Albright, the Profs have been led by Ryan Campbell with five goals and an assist for 11 points. Jake Connors has added a pair of goals and two assists for six points, while Matt Hendrickson has added one goal and two assists. 

Rutgers-Camden is 1-2 to start the year after being picked fourth in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Skyler Diggs has scored two of the five goals this season for the Scarlet Raptors, while Darnell Brown, Brad Maine, and Clayton Taylor have each added one. Rutgers-Camden played at Rowan's season-opening tournament and lost to Lycoming, 2-0, before taking down Keystone, 6-2. This weekend will serve as the home opener for the Scarlet Raptors after traveling to Alvernia for a 1-0 setback in game three.