Video Stream // Live Stats
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The fifth-ranked Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team will kick off the 2022 campaign on Saturday at 1 p.m. when the Captains host Roanoke in a non-conference battle at Jennings Family Stadium.
Saturday's showdown will mark Christopher Newport's first appearance since advancing to the Final Four for the first time in program history last year. Along the way, the Captains compiled a 13-6 record and climbed as high as third in the USILA National Coaches Poll.
On the other side of the field, Roanoke posted a 7-4 record in 2021 while earning a spot in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Quarterfinals.
For those fans unable to attend Saturday's contest, live stats will be available at CNUsports.com. The Captains will also provide a broadcast of the game with Andy McGregor and Will Geise calling all of the action. Direct links can be found at the top of this release and on the schedule page.
Christopher Newport returns every player who started during last year's NCAA Tournament, including the program's top-11 leading scorers. In fact, the 2021 Captains produced 258 goals during the year, and only five were scored by players not on the current roster. Meanwhile, of the 15 total players who earned at least one start last season, 14 are back in the fold.
Among the top returners,
Max Wayne,
Dylan Rice,
Phoenix Hines, and
Brady Altobello all secured All-American honors for their work in 2021. Hines enters the year as the program's all-time leader with 131 caused turnovers, while Wayne sits second with 124. Offensively, Rice is Christopher Newport's all-time leading scorer with 234 career points, and Altobello sits eighth with 120.
With one more starting assignment, Wayne will also become the program's all-time leader in games started, passing former legend Michael Mabry, who recorded 64 during his tenure from 2013-16.
Along with the decorated contingent,
Will Stockhausen enters the year ranked seventh in school history with 123 points, and
Jackson Deal stands 10th with 110. Meanwhile, junior
Zac Hanway already sits fourth on the program's all-time charts with 185 career saves, and
Zack Sands is back after leading all freshmen in the NCAA with 356 faceoff attempts last year. His 98 ground balls and 182 faceoff victories also set new freshman records at Christopher Newport.
In addition to the veterans, Richmond transfer
Andrew Cook also picked up Preseason All-American honors from
Inside Lacrosse earlier this month. With the honor, he became the first student-athlete in Christopher Newport history to earn a Preseason All-American citation before ever suiting up for the Captains.
On the other side of the field, Roanoke was selected fourth in the ODAC Preseason Coaches Poll entering 2022. The Maroons return four All-Conference performers, including All-American George Gilbert, who anchored the midfield unit with 23 goals last season. Luke Kammerman also added 40 total points as a member of the attack, while Luca Docking chipped in with 32. John Dias returns following a standout campaign as a long-stick midfielder as well.
Last year, Christopher Newport registered a 17-6 victory over Roanoke in Salem. During that contest, Altobello erupted for six points, including five goals, while Rice added four strikes of his own. Additionally, Sands won nine of his 11 faceoff attempts, and Hanway added 10 saves between the pipes.
Overall, the two programs have met seven times with Christopher Newport holding a 5-2 edge in the series. The Captains have won four straight showdowns, including a 17-11 triumph in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2018.
Following Saturday's tilt, Christopher Newport will return to action on February 19 for a noon battle at Randolph-Macon.
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