SALISBURY, Md. -- Closing out the 2023 regular season on Saturday afternoon, the second-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team will head to Salisbury University (10-5-2) for a 2:00 p.m. kickoff. The Captains are looking to wrap up their third consecutive undefeated regular season, coming into the matchup with a 14-0-1 overall record. 

CNU fell one spot in the United Soccer Coaches Division III national rankings this week despite another perfect 2-0-0 performance. The Captains have strung together an impressive streak of 60 straight games without a loss, posting a 55-0-5 record over the last three seasons.

In addition, the defense has amassed a dominant, record-breaking run of shutout minutes, closing in on 750 consecutive without a goal surrendered. CNU has won seven straight conference defensive player of the week awards, showcasing the breadth of talent on the back line and in goal as four different players have garnered the selections. Junior center back Reanna Slater is flanked by senior Nyah Savage and sophomore Jackie Stallard while rookie goalkeeper Amy Sidaway has started 11 straight games and boasts a 0.09 goals-against average. 

Led by two-time C2C Offensive Player of the Week Kyleigh Gough, the Captains offense ranks in the top-ten nationally in total shots attempted this year. Gough has 11 points on four goals and three assists to lead a group of 14 different goal scorers so far this season. Eighteen different players have logged at least one point so far this season for the well-balanced offense that has eight different players who have scored six or more points in 15 games. Among them are All-American Sarah Smith, with eight points on three goals and two assists in just 11 games due to an injury, and sophomore transfer Hanna Heaton, with nine points on three goals and three helpers. 

Saturday's matchup against the Sea Gulls will be the 30th all-time showing between the two teams with Christopher Newport holding a 19-6-4 all-time advantage in the series. Salisbury is the last team to score a goal against CNU in the run of play in a 3-1 loss to the Captains last year, and Christopher Newport is unbeaten in the last seven matchups against the Sea Gulls (5-0-2). 

Salisbury will counter the Captains' dominant defense with a 10-win team that has seven multi-goal performances this season. The Sea Gulls are coming off a 2-0 win over St. Mary's College of Maryland on Wednesday afternoon and will be closing the regular season against the Captains. Ashley Pantano leads the offense with ten points on four goals and two assists while the defense has been anchored by Riley Pinato in 12 starts between the pipes this year, featuring a 1.04 goals against average and four shutouts. 

Live stats and a live video webcast will be available online. Links to both can be found on the women's soccer schedule at CNUsports.com. 

Following the regular season finale, the Captains and Sea Gulls will travel to Fredericksburg, Va. for next week's Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Championship. The first round will be played on Thursday, November 2, followed by the semifinals on Friday, November 3 and the championship game on Sunday, November 5.