Video Stream // Live Stats
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- For the second straight week, the sixth-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team will face a neutral-site test at Mary Washington's Battleground Turf Field as the Captains prepare to square off against Denison on Sunday at 11 a.m.
Entering the contest, CNU sits at 12-0 overall and 6-0 away from Newport News. Meanwhile, Denison is 8-3, including a 3-3 mark in road tilts.
For those fans unable to attend the game, a video stream of the action will be available on Christopher Newport's official YouTube channel. The Captains will also have live stats at CNUsports.com. Direct links to both features can be found at the top of this release and on the schedule page.
CNU was last in action on Tuesday when the squad upended Susquehanna, 4-0.
Abby Asuncion landed a pair of goals and equaled Christopher Newport Hall of Famer Belle Tunstall's program record with her 115th career point. That total also ranks 21st among all active field hockey players in the NCAA.
Along with Asuncion,
Maddison Steele and
Katie Abendschoen found the back of the cage, while
Lily Kerr polished off her 10th career shutout. Overall, it marked CNU's seventh shutout this year, which equals the fourth-highest total in the country. The squad also ranks third in both goals-against-average (0.50) and save percentage (.878).
Offensively, Christopher Newport sits fifth in the NCAA in scoring with a 4.58 goals-per-game average. Asuncion leads the team with nine strikes while six other Captains have at least five tallies, including seven from freshman
Lindsey Loar.
Alexis Morales also sits eighth in the country with a 0.75 assists-per-game rate.
Denison comes into the weekend after notching back-to-back shutouts, including a 2-0 triumph at DePauw on Thursday. Overall this season, the Big Red is tied for third in the NCAA with eight shutouts while ranking eighth in save percentage (.848) and 11th in goals-against-average (0.69). Athena Joannou has led the squad between the pipes, recording 42 saves in 671 minutes of action.
Offensively, Emma Gebhart leads Denison with five goals and 11 points, while Lila Smith is second with four strikes and a pair of assists. Overall, 11 different players have registered a goal, including Tabitha Chandler, who landed the game-winner in a 1-0 triumph over No. 16 Washington & Lee last month.
In four previous meetings between the two programs, CNU holds a 4-0 record against Denison. However, the Captains and Big Red have not faced each other since Christopher Newport posted a 3-2 overtime triumph on October 17, 2015.
After Sunday's contest, the Captains will return to action on Wednesday at 4 p.m. when the team hosts No. 5 Salisbury in the regular season home finale.
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