NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- After three games away from Captains Field to start the 2022 campaign, the top-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team will play at home for the first time since being crowned NCAA Division III National Champions in 2021 when they welcome Susquehanna University and Methodist University for the 2022 Captains Classic this weekend. CNU (2-0-1) will first host the River Hawks of Susquehanna (2-1-0) at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday in the home opener before also taking on the Methodist Monarchs (2-0-1) at 4:30 on Sunday afternoon. 

The 2022 Captains Classic will also include Virginia Wesleyan University, who will host Methodist on Saturday before traveling to CNU for a neutral site contest against Susquehanna at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. For all three matches at CNU, live stats and a live video webcast will be available at CNUsports.com. 

Christopher Newport is coming off a thrilling come-from-behind win at Virginia Wesleyan on Wednesday night. Against the Marlins, Kenna McCarthy registered her first career goal and Sarah Smith notched the gamewinner with less than two minutes remaining. Smith's winning strike was the sixth of her career in just her second season in the Royal Blue and Silver. She sits just two winners behind a spot in the top-ten all-time at Christopher Newport. 

While the offense was dominant for the better portion of the 2-1 win, the defense continues to impress for second-year head coach Jamie Gunderson. While the first goal allowed of 2022 was surrendered in the contest, the Captains back line of Nyah Savage, Sarah Rhiel, Kate Eissenberg, and Jill McDonald have been a suffocating unit for opposing attacks this year. Pairing the hot defensive start with last year's program-record year defensively, the CNU women's soccer team has allowed just eight goals in the last 26 games played. 

Susquehanna will counter with a 2-1-0 start this season including an 8-1 win over Delaware Valley and a 2-1 victory against Dickinson. The River Hawks dropped a 2-0 decision to open the year against No. 7 Misericordia, but have ripped off an impressive ten goals in the next two contests. Marley Sprenkel leads the way for Susquehanna with three goals scored while Kameron Watkins has added a pair while coming off the bench. Five more River Hawks have registered a single goal through the first three games of 2022. 

Methodist will enter Sunday's bout with the top-ranked Captains after adding one more game to a 2-0-1 start. With a game against Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday, the Monarchs will look to remain unbeaten after wins against Eastern Mennonite and St. Andrews with a 2-2 draw against Averett between. The Monarchs have been a potent offense in the first three games, scoring nine goals to start the year.  Laura Harris leads the attack with two goals while Maddie Hernandez and Rianna Orello have each added one goal and an assist. 

This will be the first-ever matchup between CNU and Susquehanna and the 29th all-time meeting with the Monarchs. Against Methodist, CNU owns an 18-6-4 all-time advantage in the series and the Captains have won nine straight. 

Following the weekend home series, the top-ranked CNU women's soccer team will hit the road against for a pair of matches in Pennsylvania, traveling to Swarthmore College and Widener University next weekend, September 17-18.