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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The Christopher Newport field hockey team was slotted 16th in the NFHCA National Preseason Coaches Poll and will kick off the 2022 campaign on Thursday at 6 p.m. when the Captains host Bridgewater at Jennings Family Stadium.
Christopher Newport earned 295 total points in the poll to secure the No. 16 position. It marks the 15th consecutive season in which the Captains have earned votes in the preseason rankings. Last year's team began 2021 ranked 14th nationally before claiming the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference regular season title while advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th time since 2006.
Along with the Captains, league rival Salisbury was picked 12th overall, while three of the squad's non-conference foes also earned recognition in the poll. Washington & Lee was slotted 10th in the preseason rankings, while Lynchburg and Centre both received votes and fell just outside of the top-20.
The Captains welcome back a solid contingent of veterans from last year's team, which finished the year with an 11-6 record. Senior
Abby Asuncion led the league with 13 goals and was celebrated as a first-team All-American. She enters her fourth season tied for 10th in program history with 27 total goals, while her 58 points place her 15th on the all-time charts.
Along with Asuncion,
Marcella Sabbagh garnered All-Region nods last year and became the first player in over 15 years to lead the conference in both assists and defensive saves. Overall, she enters her senior campaign ranked third in school history with 12 defensive saves and 14th with 13 assists.
Adding to the decorated collection of veterans,
Brooke Billhimer is the reigning Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, while
Katie Abendschoen also secured All-League laurels following a fantastic debut campaign. Billhimer was one of only nine freshmen in the NCAA to record at least two assists and two defensive saves last year, and Abendschoen paced all freshmen in the conference with eight goals and 19 points.
In addition to the award-winning crew,
Gabi Gray,
Lainey Pratzner,
Emma Logue,
Chloe Thompson, and
Vivian Pope are all back after starting at least 10 games last year. Additionally,
Morgan Arthur and
Maddison Steele also earned starting assignments in 2021, while
Paige Bowling joins Gray as a veteran presence in the cage.
Christopher Newport will open the season against Bridgewater, who was selected sixth in the ODAC Preseason Coaches Poll. The Eagles are coming off of a 6-12 record last year and welcome back nine returners from 2021. Among the veterans, Emily Tyler led the squad with 15 goals and 34 points. Daphne Daymude and Erin Dameron also slotted among the team's top-five scorers last year.
In 19 previous meetings between the two programs, Christopher Newport boasts a 17-2 record, including an 8-0 triumph last year. During the most recent showdown, Abendschoen and Asuncion both collected a pair of goals, while Steele and Logue also added strikes. Meanwhile, Gray and Bowling combined for the 60-minute shutout.
For those fans unable to attend Thursday's game, live stats and a video stream of the action will be available at CNUsports.com. Direct links to both features can be found at the top of this release and on the schedule page.
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