LYNCHBURG, Va. -- In the second game of a four-game road trip, the top-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team will travel to the University of Lynchburg (4-1-4) on Tuesday for a 5:00 p.m. opening kickoff. The Captains are riding a ten-game unbeaten streak to start the year, registering a 9-0-1 overall record heading into the weeknight tilt on the road. 

Christopher Newport continues to hold it's perch atop the national rankings while riding a 33-match unbeaten streak dating back to the start of the 2021 campaign (31-0-2). Lynchburg is currently unranked, but the perennial power has just one loss this season through the first nine games. Regardless of record, the two rivals have consistently provided fans with top-notch matches in the all-time series, which favors Lynchburg by a count of 12-6-3. 

This will be the first trip to Shellenberger Field for CNU Women's Soccer since 2018 when the Captains suffered a 2-1 setback to the Hornets. It would prove to be one of only two losses that season as CNU rolled to the program's first-ever NCAA National Semifinals and finished the year with a 21-2-0 record. Since, CNU has gone 2-0-1 in the next three bouts, including a 5-1 win at home over Lynchburg last season on Senior Night. 

Lynchburg features a defense that is as tough to score on as any in the nation, allowing just four goals this season with three of them coming in a single game against Emory. The Hornets have seven shutouts and boast a 0.44 goals-against average, ranking 25th in the nation. The team's shutout percentage ranks top-five in the country as junior Jade Lecklider has earned the most minutes in goal with 22 saves in 720 minutes of action. 

Christopher Newport is scoring 2.30 goals per game through the first ten contests while being led by senior forward Sarah Smith. The Norfolk, Va. native has eight goals and one assist for 17 points with three game-winning goals to lead the hearty CNU attack. Junior Emma Ricci has seven points on two goals and three helpers, while rookie Kyleigh Gough has added three goals so far. Also adding six points in the early stages of her career is rookie Molly Seventko with one goal and a team-high four assists. 

CNU is coming off a 2-1 win at Roanoke College last week, who Lynchburg also downed in a 2-0 match earlier this fall. Defender Nyah Savage scored both goals off assists by Emma Ricci in that game. 

Live stats and a live video webcast will be available from Lynchburg, with links to both found at CNUsports.com. 

Following the Tuesday night showing, the Captains will stay on the road to face Gettysburg on Saturday, October 8 at 3:00 p.m.