NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Continuing the team's seven-game homestand to start the 2022 season, the Christopher Newport men's soccer program will welcome a pair from out-of-state this weekend as the Captains are set to face No. 23 Covenant College (Ga.) on Friday followed by a Sunday matinee against No. 25 UT Dallas. Kickoff against Covenant is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Friday night followed by a 1:00 p.m. matchup against the Comets on Sunday afternoon. 

The Captains are off to a 3-1-0 start this season and will be taking on a Covenant Scots squad, ranked No. 23 in the nation, that has not lost yet this season with a 2-0-2 record. It will be just the second matchup all-time between the two teams after Christopher Newport secured a 2-0 win over the Scots last season in the opening weekend. Meeting for the first time in program history, the Captains will take on a UT Dallas team that jumped into the United Soccer Coaches rankings this week at No. 25 in the nation. The Comets are off to a 3-0-1 start including a win over then-No. 13 Trinity (Texas) and will face Virginia Wesleyan in the first game of the weekend on Friday at 5:00 pm. 

For fans unable to attend the action live at Captains Field, an online video webcast and live stats will be available for both games. Links to both can be found on the schedule page at CNUsports.com. 

Christopher Newport is ranked sixth in the first regular season Region VI poll released by the United Soccer Coaches. Covenant is ranked second in the same listing while UT Dallas checks in at No. 3 in the Region X poll. 

So far this season, the Captains defense has led the way with just two goals allowed in four games. Leading the way to the 0.53 goals-against average as a team has been fifth-year starting goalkeeper Ethan Larson, making four saves and pitching one shutout in over 300 minutes of action so far. On the back line, senior transfer Kyle Stenzel was named the C2C Defensive Player of the Week after a three-point showing against Pfeiffer while Jonah Fitz, Ryan Kiely, and Jacob Dudley have helped shore up the back line. The defense has allowed just 4.5 shots per game and only 2.0 shots on-goal per contest. 

Offensively, CNU has been led by rookie Asher Kuzemka, scoring two goals and adding an assist for five points. Six more Captains have found the back of the net this season including fellow freshmen Barry Jones and LB Sutton. 

Covenant comes into Friday's matchup with a four-match unbeaten streak to start the year including a high-scoring battle with Emory in the opener that finished 3-3. Since, the Scots have defeated Oglethorpe and Whitworth, 2-1, and tied Berry on the road, 1-1. The high-scoring offense is led by Mercer Stout with three goals so far while Jay Patterson has added two goals and an assist through the first four games. 

UT Dallas already has a marquee win with the 2-1 result over Trinity in their last outing. The Comets also tied Rhodes, 1-1, and earned 3-1 and 2-1 wins over Hendrix and Southwestern (Texas), respectively. Kane Kidwell has a team-high five points offenseively with two goals and one assist while Kayson Marriott has added two goals for four points this year. In goal, Ethan Hilliard and Michael Hesse have combined to allow two goals each for a 1.00 goals-against average. 

Following the weekend's action, Christopher Newport will play host to Mary Washington on Saturday, September 24 to close out the seven-game homestand to start the year.