SALISBURY, Md. -- Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 pm Wednesday afternoon as the Christopher Newport men's soccer team travels to Salisbury University for Capital Athletic Conference action. The Captains (6-6-0, 2-2-0) trail a three-way tie for second in the league standings that includes Salisbury (9-2-2, 2-1-1) by just one point with three games left to play.
In a rule change by the league this season, all eight teams will play in the 2018 Capital Athletic Conference Tournament, but the tournament seeding is still wide open with three regular season games left for each team. Seven of the eight teams are separated by just four points in a logjam that likely won't be cleared until the final game next Wednesday.
This week, the Captains will face Salisbury with a chance to move up in the standings against one of the league's top teams. The Sea Gulls are receiving votes in the D3soccer.com Top 25 after a 2-1 win over then-8th ranked Mary Washington in their last game on Saturday, October 13.
Matt Mackenzie was named the CAC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week as Salisbury upset the Eagles in conference action. He scored the game-winning goal in that victory with just 2:39 remaining, picking up his first career goal. The Sea Gulls have been led by an impressive defense, allowing just seven goals this season for a 0.52 goals-against average. Senior goalkeeper Trevor Bookhart has started all 13 games and owns an .889 save percentage with 48 saves.
The Captains will challenge Bookhart with one of the league's top offensive units, averaging over two goals per game this season. CNU has been led by senior
Stephen Durbin with 11 points on four goals and three assists, and junior
Jordan Boone, with 10 points on four goals and two assists. Three CNU players have added three goals in
Justin Wilson,
David Eddleton, and
Derek Cook.
Defensively, senior
Bobby Seifert has played all but 12 minutes this season to lead the Captains back line to a 0.97 goals against average.
Derek Cook,
Daniel Hulett, and
Davis Pillow round out the starting defense, while senior
Zach Pedini has started all 12 games in net for the Captains.
Salisbury University will present a live video webcast and live stats for fans who can not attend the game in Maryland. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 pm from Sea Gull Soccer Stadium.
Following Wednesday's road trip, the Captains will close out their road-heavy schedule on Saturday with a trip to nationally-ranked Mary Washington. Kickoff against the Eagles will be 3:30 pm.
