NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Taking the field at home for the first time since opening weekend, the Christopher Newport men's soccer program will play just their third game on Captains Field this Saturday night at 7:00 pm. The Captains welcome Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference rival Mary Washington (5-2-1) after a six-match streak away from home.
Christopher Newport has posted a 3-3-1 overall record through the challenging non-conference slate, including three losses to nationally-ranked programs over the last four games. The schedule does not get any lighter as 2019 conference champion Mary Washington kicks off a run of familiar matchups that includes battles against York (Pa.), St. Mary's (Md.), Johns Hopkins, and Salisbury.
The all-time series against the Eagles is one of the tightest in CNU soccer history as the Captains own a slight 23-20-5 advantage in the matchup. The two teams have been playing each other since 1977 when CNU hosted the first ever bout on October 18, winning 4-0. Christopher Newport has gone on to win or tie 16 of the 24 matches in Newport News with a 13-8-3 record at Captains Field. The last time the two teams matched up was in the 2019 CAC Championship in which the game finished in a 1-1 draw, but the Eagles captured the title in penalty kicks.
Defensively, the Captains have been strong this season by allowing just eight goals in eight games with three shutouts. Seniors
Davis Pillow and
Daniel Hulett control the middle of the defense while
Jacob Dudley and
Jonathon Leiding have done the bulk of the work on the outside.
On the offensive side of the ball, junior
Chris Schram has started his career at CNU with three goals and an assist for a team-leading seven points so far.
Cory Hogge is the only other Captain with multiple goals, posting a pair through the first eight games.
Mary Washington with similar output so far this year. Only two players have scored more than one goal in junior Josh Kirkland (5 pts; 2 g, 1 a) and Abel Luwis (4 pts; 2 g), and the defense has allowed just five goals so far. Veteran goalkeeper Ken Kurtz has played all 740 minutes in net for the Eagles, boasting a 0.61 goals-against average and four shutouts.
The matchup will be played as part of Family Weekend festivities on the heels of the CNU football game. Parking is available in any of the surface lots around campus and the gates will open one hour before kickoff at 6:00 pm. For fans unable to attend in person, live stats and a live video webcast will be available at CNUsports.com.
Following the Saturday night battle, the Captains hit the road again for one as they travel to Northern Virginia for a neutral site bout against the York College of Pennsylvania Spartans on Wednesday, October 6. That game will be played at the Evergreen Sportsplex in Leesburg, Va.
