NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 2018 version of the Christopher Newport men's soccer team will be on display for the first time this season on Friday night as the Captains host Greensboro College on opening night as part of the Joe Pombriant / CNU Soccer Classic. The game will kick-off at 7:30 pm at Captains Field as the second game of the day following Virginia Wesleyan vs. Pfeiffer at 5:00 pm. 

The annual season-opening tournament will also feature a third game on Sunday, September 2, as the Captains host Pfeiffer University at 1:00 pm to wrap up the event. Admission is free to all three games on the CNU campus, and for fans who can not attend, a live video webcast and live stats will be available. 

Shouldered with the memory of a disappointing end to a strong season in 2017, the Captains will look to bounce back in 2018. CNU finished with a 14-win season after winning the Capital Athletic Conference regular season championship, but was left out of the NCAA Tournament after falling in the conference tournament final to Mary Washington. This season, the Captains return 11 seniors and a roster full of talented veterans thirsty to erase that memory and return to the NCAA postseason. 

That trek begins with a familiar foe in the Greensboro College Pride, who feature Conference Player of the Year Carlos Barragan. CNU leads the all-time series against the Pride, 19-14-4, after capturing a 2-1 victory last season over their former conference foes. The Pride finished last season with a 15-5-1 overall record and reached the conference tournament semifinals. 

CNU returns three All-Conference performers including a pair of All-Region selections to lead the way in 2018. Seniors Bobby Seifert, Stephen Durbin, and Andrew Maeso each garnered individual accolades last season after leading the team to another strong season. Durbin scored 27 points on 12 goals and 3 assists to help lead a strong offense, while Seifert anchored the back line that allowed just 1.04 goals-against average in 2017. Maeso helped control the middle of the park, with 14 starts in the defensive midfield. 

In addition to the three award winners, CNU returns a host of talented players including sophomore defender Davis Pillow, who scored five goals and added three assists in his first year, and senior midfielder Daniel Zeitoun, the team's leader in assists last season. In goal, senior Zach Pedini returns for his third straight season starting between the pipes, with a 1.12 career GAA on his resume. 

After Friday's action, the team will get a day to rest on Saturday before returning to the pitch on Sunday to take on Pfeiffer University at 1:00 pm. The Falcons, previously a Division II institution, are in just their second season as a Division III member and will be playing the Captains for the first time in program history.