NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The eighth-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team will play one more regular season game at home on Wednesday night when they host first-place Salisbury University at 7:00 pm. The Captains will carry a 15-1-2 overall mark and 8-1-0 record into the game with their lone setback coming at the hands of the Sea Gulls earlier this season; Salisbury is 13-2-2, 9-0-0 in league play.

Not quite a winner-takes-all situation, the Captains will need to defeat the Sea Gulls by three goals or more on Wednesday night to capture their seventh consecutive regular season CAC title. Salisbury won, 5-2, at home and due to tiebreakers lined out in the Capital Athletic Conference handbook, the Captains need to win by at least as many goals in the game at Captains Field. 

Regardless of the outcome, the two teams have already earned the top two seeds and a first-round bye in next weeks CAC Tournament. Christopher Newport will play at home next Wednesday in their next game as they host the CAC Semifinals against an opponent yet to be determined. Kickoff is slated for 5:00 pm. 

First, the Captains will look to continue it's offensive success from this season against one of the top-ranked defenses in the nation. Salisbury has allowed just eight goals this year and only two, to the Captains, in conference play. The Sea Gulls are riding a 13-game unbeaten streak with an 11-0-2 record dating back to September 11. 

Led by junior All-American forward Riley Cook, the Captains offense ranks third in the nation in total points and 12th in points per game. Cook has scored 55 points on a program-record 26 goals and three assists while six more Captains have logged double-figure scoring performances this season. Junior Madison Cochran (7g, 4a) and sophomore Emily Talotta (3g, 12a) are tied for second on the team in points with 18 apiece. 

Christopher Newport has won four straight since the setback to Salisbury, outscoring opponents 16-0 in that run. Cook garnered her fourth CAC Player of the Week recognition after factoring into six of the Captains' eight goals last week with five scores and one assist. 

Defensively, the Captains have only allowed nine goals this season for a 0.48 goals against average. Ignoring the outlier in Salisbury's outburst, the Christopher Newport defense has posted 13 shutouts with a 0.23 goals against average. Seniors Keiley McCarthy, Shaye Doherty, and juniors Haley Eiser in goal, and defenders Montana Coward and Lulu Manley have led the way for the suffocating back line. Rookie Jill McDonald has also seen significant action in the back  with 16 games played and six starts. 

Salisbury will counter with a defense that has allowed more than one goal in a game only twice this season. Four-time conference defensive player of the week Emma Hill has led the way between the pipes for the Sea Gulls, playing all but 80 minutes this season. Hill has an .855 save percentage and a 0.48 goals-against average so far this year. Offensively, the Sea Gulls have six players with 10 points or more this season led by a trio with 17 at the top. Seniors Julianna Boller and Lydia Narum are joined by junior Brooke Rossiter with a combined 20 goals and 11 assists between them. 

For fans unable to come to Captains Field on Wednesday night, live stats and a live video webcast will be available at CNUsports.com.