NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Making the team's first appearance in the postseason since 2016, the Christopher Newport men's soccer team is set to host Eastern University in the NCAA Division III Championship first round on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 pm. Following the Captains and Eagles matchup, Christopher Newport will also serve as host to a first-round neutral site bout between Roanoke College and Swarthmore College at 3:30 pm. 

Ahead of the first round of NCAA Tournament play in Newport News this weekend, the official games committee made the decision to move all three games to Jennings Family Stadium with game times remaining the same. The artificial turf surface is adjacent TowneBank Stadium on the Christopher Newport campus and directions to the brand new facility can be found here.

Ticket Prices & Live Coverage
Tickets to the postseason tournament will be $6 for adults and $3 for seniors, students, and children. Christopher Newport students will be admitted free of charge with a valid ID. 

Live stats and a live video webcast will be available for all three games with links found below or on the men's soccer schedule at CNUsports.com. 

Game 1 - Chris. Newport vs. Eastern:  Live Stats  ||  Live Video
Game 2 - Roanoke vs. Swarthmore: Live Stats  ||  Live Video
Game 3 - Winner of G1 vs. Winner of G2:  Live Stats  ||  Live Video

Game 1 - No. 23 Christopher Newport (13-2-4) vs. Eastern (11-9-1)
The Captains earned their 11th NCAA Tournament appearance via an at-large berth from the NCAA National Championship Selection Committee after reaching the Capital Athletic Conference final and falling in a penalty kick shootout to nationally-ranked Mary Washington. Eastern won the MAC Freedom conference title with a 3-1 win over King's College on November 9. This will be the first matchup between the two programs all-time and only the fourth game for the Captains against any opponent currently in the MAC Freedom (vs. DeSales, 3-0). 

Game 2 - No. 17 Roanoke (14-2-3) vs. Swarthmore (11-3-3)
Roanoke returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012 after earning an at-large berth into the postseason following a run to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference semifinals. The Maroons are 14-2-3 overall after a 2-1 loss to Washington & Lee in the conference semifinal matchup. Swarthmore also earned an at-large berth after an impressive regular season led to an 11-3-3 mark as part of the Centennial Conference. The Garnet and Maroons have never met prior to Saturday's matchup 

About the Teams
Christopher Newport is hosting NCAA first- and second-round games for the eighth time in program history and the first since 2014 when the Captains defeated Lynchburg (1-0) and Stevens (4-2) to advance to the sectional round. This season, Christopher Newport features one of the nation's top defenses ranking ninth nationally in goals-against average with a 0.595. Led by senior goalkeeper Justin Piercy, who ranks 12th nationally, the Captains are top-ten in save percentage with an .865 mark. The CAC Defensive Player of the Year Derek Cook has helped stymie opponents on the back line all season while also pitching in with a career-year offensively. Cook is tied for the team lead in scoring with 18 points on six goals and six assists. 

Eastern University has scored 30 goals this season with Derek Buhrman leading the charge with eight, including four gamewinners. Buhrman is the team leader in scoring with 18 points after adding a pair of assists while Sam Sutherland and Julio Ardon have also scored in double figures this year with 12 points apiece. Both have four goals and four assists for the season while starting at least 18 games. Defensively, Anthony Hitchcock has started 19 games for the Eagles, posting a 1.16 goals-against average and a .781 save percentage with five shutouts. 

Roanoke College enters the weekend ranked No. 17 in the latest United Soccer Coaches National Rankings with an imposing defense that has shutout nearly 60% of their opponents this season. The maroons rank ninth nationally in shutout percentage (.579) and 11th in goals-against average (0.614) with goalkeeper Zach Behe leading the charge. Behe has 10 shutouts as a sophomore netminder, picking up 14 wins with an .836 save percentage. Offensively, the Maroons pair that stingy defense with an offense that has scored 49 goals. The attack is led by sophomore Liam Camilleri with 7 goals, 4 assists, and 18 total points. 

Swarthmore earned an at-large berth despite not making the conference tournament as the Centennial proved to be one of the deepest leagues in the nation this season. The Garnet last played two weeks ago against Haverford in the regular season finale, falling 3-1 to the Fords to end a five-game unbeaten streak. Featuring one of the most accurate legs in the country in Bless Tumushabe, putting 65% of his attempts on frame, the Swarthmore attack has four players in double figures this season. Tumushabe has four goals and four assists for 12 points while Joe Barile leads the squad with six goals and five assists for 17 total points. 

Second Round Matchup
The two advancing teams will matchup at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon at Jennings Family Stadium.