FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- With just two games left on the regular season slate, a nationally-ranked showdown with Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference rival Mary Washington is next up for the No. 15 CNU men's soccer team. The Captains (10-2-1) make the return trip to Fredericksburg on Saturday to take on the host and 24th-ranked Eagles (8-3-2) at 2:30 p.m.

Both teams have been hot against their competition lately, as Christopher Newport is 8-1-1 over the last ten games, including a 2-1 win over the Eagles, and Mary Washington has run off a streak of four straight wins and has only suffered the setback to CNU in the last eight games.

The matchup pits one of the nation's elite defensive units against one of the best offensive groups. The Captains rank 17th in the country in goals-against average and seventh overall in shutout percentage; Mary Washington enters the contest ranked 32nd in scoring offense while averaging 3.25 goals over their last four matches. When the two teams met on September 24, a key defensive play by Ethan Larson saved the win for CNU as the Captains pulled out a 2-1 win after a game-saving stop in the 89th minute. 

CNU leads the all-time series, 26-21-5, but the matchup has been back-and-forth for the better part of a decade. CNU holds a slight 9-6-2 edge since joining the league in 2013, but one of those ties includes a PK shootout win for the Eagles in 2015, drawing the series even closer. Even more impressive, 14 of those 17 games have been decided by one goal or less. 

The Captains are coming off a 3-0 win against Salisbury on Wednesday night, improving to 10-2-1 on the season with four consecutive shutouts. With a goal on Wednesday, rookie Asher Kuzemka joined a three-way tie for the points lead as Captains senior Brendan Todd and junior Elton Quintanilla have also added seven points so far this year. Defender Jonathon Leiding scored the gamewinner in back-to-back games and ranks fourth on the team with six points on two goals and two assists. 

Leiding has combined with Chris Schram, Ryan Kiely, and Jonah Fitz to do the bulk of the work on the back line lately. while playing in front of fifth-year senior Ethan Larson. The defense has allowed just seven goals in 13 games this season for a 0.55 goals-against average. 

Mary Washington is led by one of the country's top scorers, as Josh Kirkland ranks ninth in goals per game and 13th in total goals scored this season. His 13 scoring strikes and two assists has pushed him to the top of the conference scoring column while ranking in the top-25 nationally with 28 points. Additionally, sophomore Carter Berg has added 15 points and junior Juan Vargas has ten. 

For fans unable to attend in person, live stats and a live video webcast will be available courtesy of the Mary Washington Department of Athletics. Links can be found on the men's soccer schedule at CNUsports.com. 

Following Saturday's bout against the Eagles, CNU will close the regular season on the road at Salisbury on October 29 before traveling back to Maryland for the C2C Championship Tournament the following week.