VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Opening up defense of the program's first ever national championship this weekend, the top-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team will face a pair of neutral site battles on the campus of Virginia Wesleyan University. The Captains first take on the College of Saint Benedict on Friday, September 2 at 5:00 p.m. before then facing No. 19 McDaniel College at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 4. 

Playing as part of the Marlin Invitational, all four teams will be kicking off the season with action in Virginia Beach this weekend. The host Virginia Wesleyan squad was picked to win the ODAC and CNU will face off against their cross-water rivals in mid-week action on the same field next week. 

Live stats and live video will be provided for all the action this weekend with links found at the top of this page or on the women's soccer schedule page at CNUsports.com. 

Christopher Newport enters the 2022 season with a 23-match unbeaten streak after posting an undefeated run to the NCAA Division III national championship last year with a 22-0-1 overall record. Head coach Jamie Gunderson returns for his second season with nine starters back from the group that won the title nearly ten months ago to the day. 

The Bennies of CSB were 11-4-3 last season and finished as runner-up in the MIAC Championship Game. That setback ended the season for Saint Benedict after a tremendous 12-match unbeaten streak carried them into the conference tournament and title bout. Sophomore Sydney Burns, who ranked second on the team in scoring in 2021, is the team's leading returner after scoring four goals and four assists last season. The Bennies, based out of St. Joseph, Minnesota, will be facing Christopher Newport for the third time with one win apiece in the all-time series. 

Coming into Sunday's matchup against CNU, McDaniel College enters the year ranked No. 19 in the nation according to the United Soccer Coaches preseason top-25. The Green Terror won the program's first Centennial Conference Championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament last year. Featuring one of the best defensive units in the country, McDaniel allowed just six goals in 21 games while posting an 18-2-1 overall record. The Green Terror, facing CNU for the first time, returns a pair of first team All-Conference selections from that defense in goalkeeper Katherine Carstensen and defender Jules Dotterweich. 

Christopher Newport will counter their opponents with a roster chock full of talent returning from the championship run a year ago. All-Americans Sarah Smith and Jill McDonald headline the group alongside All-Region midfielder and fifth-year star Abby Harrigan. Smith scored 21 points on nine goals and three assists last season while three more returners all finished with double-figure scoring output. McDonald anchored a defense with Nyah Savage, Re Slater, and Sarah Rhiel that surrendered only seven goals in 23 games last season. 

The opening kickoff against Saint Benedict is set for 5:00 p.m. on Foster Field in Virginia Beach. It will be the first game of a doubleheader with McDaniel and the host Marlins set to play at 7:30 p.m.