NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Captains defense continues to put together an exceptional season with two more shutouts this week and after helping to lead the way, junior defender Jonathon Leiding was named the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week. 

With his first career selection as the C2C Defensive Player of the Week, Leiding joins Ethan Larson and Kyle Stenzel as honored Captains this year. CNU has earned four of the possible six awards this season. 

During the week, Christopher Newport secured shutouts against Virginia Wesleyan, 4-0, and No. 9 Washington and Lee, 0-0. Leiding was on the field for all 180 minutes of action, helping the Captains improve to 8-2-1 with seven shutouts in 11 games this year. 

Christopher Newport ranks in the top-ten nationally in shutout percentage and Leiding has been a big contributor to the Captains' success defensively. This week, the junior center back during the two clean sheets helped hold Virginia Wesleyan without a single shot on goal while keeping the dangerous Washington and Lee attack, averaging 3.0 goals per game coming in, to just a single shot on frame. The Captains' defense held the Generals to their first fall season shutout since 2019, halting a run of 42 games with at least one goal scored. 

Leiding has played in all 11 games and made seven consecutive starts this season. He leads the team in minutes played over the last five games with four complete game efforts. 

CNU will return to action this Saturday, October 15 at St. Mary's College of Maryland for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff


PREVIOUS HONOREES

Sept 5: OFF - Josh Kirkland (UMW), DEF - Ethan Larson (CNU)
Sept 12: OFF - Clayton Mobile (UWP), DEF - Kyle Stenzel (CNU)
Sept 19: OFF - Jack Gentilli (UWP), DEF - Ethan Larson (CNU)
Sept 26: OFF - Christian Mendoza-Huynh (FIN), DEF - Seth Aiken (UWP)
Oct 3: OFF - Sebastian Carranza (UWP), DEF - Brant Mueller (UWP)
Oct 10: OFF - Chinedu Ikem (FIN), DEF - Jonathon Leiding (CNU)