NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Advancing to the sectional round of the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship for just the second time in program history, the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team will host Hope College (16-2-2) on Friday night for the Round of 16. The Captains (19-1-0) will take on the 18th-ranked Flying Dutch at 7:30 p.m. Friday night, played as the back end of a doubleheader in the sectional round that will also feature 2nd-ranked Messiah versus 17th-ranked Lynchburg at 5:00 pm. 

Christopher Newport is playing host to it's first ever women's soccer sectional and is making the team's first appearance in the "Sweet 16" since 2004 when the Captains eliminated Lynchburg, 1-0, on a neutral field in Illinois. CNU advanced this year by virtue of a 10-1 win over the College of Staten Island in the first round and a 2-0 shutout victory against the University of Scranton in the second round.

With the most recent victory, CNU improved to 19-1-0, tying last season's program record for wins in a season with 19 while adding to the team's second longest win streak with 14 straight wins. In each of those 14 wins, sophomore scoring leader Riley Cook has scored at least one point, adding to her astounding season by shattering the program record for consecutive games with a point. She has also scored a goal in nine straight games to put her name among the best in NCAA history. Her current goal-scoring streak ranks among the top 20 best rolls in Division III history and the best mark by a CNU player by three games already. 

Cook has registered statistically the greatest individual season in program history with 52 points on 23 goals and 6 assists while garnering first team All-Conference honors. Senior midfielder and two-time CAC Player of the Year Gabby Gillis has also been exceptional for the Captains attack this season, scoring 39 points on 15 goals and 9 assists. The CNU offense, which ranks fourth nationally in points per game and fifth in scoring offense, features six players in double figure scoring this season. Rookie Kristina Toms is tied for second among CNU freshmen all-time with 11 goals and has scored 23 points this season; junior Carson Pokorny has 19 points on seven goals and 5 assists; and sophomores Maddie Cochran and Maxine Borris have poured in 16 and 15 points, respectively. 

Defensively, the Captains are also putting together one of the finest seasons in CNU lore, holding opponents to just 11 goals scored in 20 games this season. Sophomore Haley Eiser has done the bulk of the work in goal for CNU and owns a 0.62 goals-against average with an .831 save percentage. Playing in front of her, rookie midfielder Sabrina Gillis has joined the veteran back line of Lulu Manley, Shaye Doherty, and Keiley McCarthy as the Captains have held opponents to just 7.3 shots per game this year. 

CNU will take on Hope College, making the program's first ever sectional appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament this weekend. The Flying Dutch is bolstered by one of the nation's top defenses, having not allowed more than a single goal in a game this season. Led by sophomore goalkeeper Jordanne Ellingboe and senior defender Eliza Beird, the Hope defense has given up just eight goals in 20 games for a 0.39 goals-against average. Hope has 12 shutouts coming into Friday night's matchup with the Captains' potent offense. 

Offensively, the Flying Dutch are led by a trio of seniors in Rylie Dalton, Hilary Curry, and Rachael Braginton. Braginton found Dalton for the game-winning goal in the second round win against nationally-ranked Otterbeing last weekend, sending Hope to the team's first Sweet 16. Dalton has 21 points on 9 goals and 3 assists while Curry has added 18 points on 7 goals and 4 assists, and Braginton has chipped in 17 point son 6 goals and 5 assists. 

The first game of the Sweet 16 doubleheader will feature No. 2 Messiah College vs. No. 17 University of Lynchburg at 5:00 pm. The two advancing teams will play in the sectional championship on Saturday evening at 6:00 pm. Links to live stats and a live video webcast can be found below, or on the CNUsports.com schedule. For fans who are attending live, ticket prices are $6 for adults and $3 for children. 

Game 1 Live Stats: Messiah vs. Lynchburg
Game 2 Live Stats: CNU vs. Hope
Game 3 Live Stats: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
Video for All Three Games: CNU All-Access

With rainfall persistent in the Hampton Roads area throughout the week, the NCAA will make a decision about the playing surface on Friday afternoon. Stay tuned to @CNUathletics on Twitter for the most recent updates regarding a decision of whether the game will be played at Captains Field or Captains Turf Field.