NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The top-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team held onto their designation as the No. 1 ranked team in the United Soccer Coaches Division III National Rankings, while also securing the first spot in the first release of the D3soccer.com Top 25 of 2022. The Captains (6-0-1) will host Randolph-Macon College (4-1-1) in their next outing on Wednesday night at 7:00 pm. 

The two teams will meet for the eighth time with Christopher Newport boasting a 6-1 advantage in the all-time series. the Captains won their last bout on September 20, 2021 by a final score of 1-0 on the road. CNU got a game-winning goal from Abby Harrigan in the 90th minute against the Yellow Jackets. 

In the United Soccer Coaches poll, the Captains were picked ahead of No. 2 Misericordia and followed in order by Messiah, Johns Hopkins, and William Smith to round out the top five. The D3soccer.com poll has a different look in the top-five with CNU securing 15 first-place votes followed by Messiah, with five, and Misericordia, with one first-place vote. Behind them are Johns Hopkins at four and Calvin at five. 

The Captains earned the team's first-ever No. 1 overall ranking in the regular season last week and maintained that position this week after a perfect 2-0-0 weekend. CNU has now run the team's record unbeaten streak to 30 games with a 28-0-2 overall record since the start of 2021. 

Leading the way is this week's C2C Offensive Player of the Week in senior Sarah Smith, who has scored 15 points in the first seven games. Emma Ricci and Molly Seventko have each added five points offensively while 14 total Captains have at least one point already this year. 

Defensively, the Captains have been as stingy as ever, allowing just four goals for a 0.57 goals-against average while locking down four shutouts in the first seven games. One of those clean sheets came against a common opponent with Randolph-Macon as both teams earned 0-0 draws with McDaniel College. 

The Yellow Jackets are receiving votes in the D3soccer.com Top 25 poll after a strong start to the year. After a four-match unbeaten streak, R-MC dropped a 3-0 decision to Johns Hopkins but bounced back for a 3-0 win against Greensboro on Saturday. The defense has been dominant, posting four shutouts in the other five games, while allowing just a single goal outside of the matchup with the Blue Jays. 

For fans unable to attend in person, live stats and a live video webcast will be available at CNUsports.com. 

United Soccer Coaches National Rankings:  Click Here.
D3soccer.com Top 25 Poll: Click Here.