SWARTHMORE, Pa. -- This weekend the top-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team will play a pair of games away from home as the team travels to Pennsylvania for matchups with Swarthmore College (6-0-0) and Widener University (2-1-2). First, CNU will take on the undefeated Garnet at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 17, before facing off at Widener at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. 

Christopher Newport is 4-0-1 so far this season, extending the program's unbeaten streak to 28 games. This weekend will serve as the first ever matchup against Swarthmore and Widener for the Captains. 

For fans unable to make the trip to the Keystone State, live stats and a live video webcast will be available for all the action. Links can be found on the women's soccer schedule at CNUsports.com. 

The first game will be played at Clothier Field Stadium on the campus of Swarthmore College. This season, the Garnet has opened with a 6-0-0 start to the year. Swarthmore has been a staple in the national rankings since reaching the NCAA National Quarterfinals in 2015. So far this year, the Garnet has outscored opponents 17-2 in the first six matchups, including four straight shutouts heading into the Saturday bout with the Captains. 

Four different Garnet players have scored three goals apiece this season, led by Kim Kockenmeister with four goals and two game-winning strikes. Amelia Mounts has added two more winners while scoring three goals for Swarthmore. In goal, Nora Greer has made 14 saves with a 0.43 goals-against average. 

On Sunday, the Captains will head to Elizabeth J. Hirschmann Field at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium in Chester, Pa. to face off against the Pride. Widener is coming off a 2-0 loss to Rowan after opening the year with two wins and two draws. Alyssa Carman leads the offense with five points on two goals and an assist while Kelly Barr has picked up both game-winning goals to rank second with a pair of goals. Samantha Coon has played all 450 minutes for the Pride in goal, registering 16 saves with a 0.80 goals-against average. 

Christopher Newport will counter with a talented roster on both sides of the field. Defensively, the Captains have allowed just two goals in the first four games while senior Jill McDonald and freshman Kate Eissenberg have led the way with juniors Sarah Rhiel and Nyah Savage on the outside. Eissenberg is the only CNU player that has not yet left the field as she has played the full 90 minutes in each of the first five games. The back line has surrendered just 3.4 shots on-goal per game this season. 

Offensively, senior Sarah Smith leads the charge with nine points on four goals and one assist. The Captains attack has been unwilling to settle for a draw in the first season without overtime, scoring five of the team's 11 goals in the final ten minutes of games. Three of those tallies have been gamewinners including a pair in the 89th minute against Virginia Wesleyan and then Susquehanna. Emma Ricci, Kenna McCarthy, and Molly Seventko have each added one goal and an assist so far this season and rank tied for third on the team in scoring. 

Following this weekend's trip, the Captains will return home for a Wednesday night matchup with Randolph-Macon College on September 21.