NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- After a solid 3-0 start to the season, national voters vaulted the Christopher Newport women's soccer team high in the rankings, improving to No. 6 in the nation ahead of Wednesday night's bout against Roanoke College. The Captains will host the Maroons at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday night, capping a three-game homestand after a perfect 2-0 record over the weekend. 

After starting the year ranked No. 16 in the United Soccer Coaches Division III Preseason Coaches Poll, the Captains saw the second-largest improvement among teams ranked in the preseason, jumping ten spots to No. 6. Christopher Newport slots into it's highest national ranking since the team registered a program-record No. 3 ranking in 2019. 

The Captains have started 3-0-0 for the seventh time in program history and the fourth time in the last five seasons. This season, Christopher Newport has picked up wins over Catholic, Pfeiffer, and Centre College, who also moved up in the Top 25, slotting in at No. 16. 

Christopher Newport will put it's pristine record on the line Wednesday against another team receiving votes in this week's national rankings, Roanoke College. The Maroons have opened the season with a perfect 5-0-0 start, outscoring their five opponents 20-1. The high-potent attack has been led by sophomore Morgan O'Neill, the ODAC Player of the Week, with six goals including a pair of gamewinners. Freshman midfielder Makayla Metzler has notched three goals and one assist and sophomore forward MC Petrucelli also has three goals so far. 

Head coach Jamie Gunderson will counter with a dangerous attack of their own, outscoring foes 12-1 through the Captains' first three games. Riley Cook and Sarah Smith lead the way with two goals and an assist each, but depth has been key so far with nine different CNU players finding the back of the net. Defensively, the stingy Captains back line has given up just one goal and only six shots on-frame so far this season. 

CNU owns a 9-5 advantage in the all-time series against Roanoke, including winning four of the last five. For fans unable to attend the game live, a video webcast and live stats will be available at CNUsports.com. 

Following Wednesday's matchup at Captains Field, the 6th-ranked Captains will travel to Randolph-Macon College for a Monday matchup on September 20 before next weekend's road trip to California to face UC Santa Cruz and Cal Lutheran.