NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The defensive dominance of the Christopher Newport women's soccer team continued last week with another shutout victory on the road and the Captains were rewarded for the fifth consecutive week with the Defensive Player of the Week from the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference. Sophomore Jackie Stallard became the fourth different CNU player to garner the recognition ahead of a Tuesday evening matchup at Southern Virginia University at 6:00 p.m.

Stallard has been a stalwart defender for the Captains in her second year, sharing the back line with senior Nyah Savage and junior Reanna Slater. The second-year star has started all 11 games this season averaging just under 77 minutes per game. Against Mary Washington last week, the Captains pulled away for a 5-0 win and Stallard matched her seasons' average with an even 77 minutes played.

Before exiting the shutout bid, Stallard also chipped in an assist on the game's final goal when she played a beautiful ball out of the back line up to senior Corinne Kulik. Her pass from about midfield sailed over the final defender and played Kulik onsides for a run down the right side and a goal from a inside the box. It was Stallard's first career point in 19 career games played. 

The sophomore defender joins Jaya Daniel, Reanna Slater, and two-time selection Amy Sidaway as CNU players to earn Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week plaudits this season. 

The defense will look to continue a four-game shutout streak on Tuesday when they travel to Buena Vista, Va. for a matchup against Southern Virginia University at 6:00 pm. CNU is 10-0-1 and will take on a Knights squad that is 6-4-1 overall this year. CNU owns a 10-0-0 advantage in the all-time series which dates back to 2000; the two teams last faced off in 2019 when Christopher Newport won a pair by a combined score of 15-0. 

While the defense has been dominant all season, the offense broke out in the Captains' last game with five goals scored against Mary Washington. Five different CNU players found the back of the net in the game, including leading scorers Corinne Kulik and Emma Ricci. Also, fellow senior Natalie Swarm added two assists in the game and now has two goals and four helpers for six points. 

Southern Virginia enters the matchup riding a hot streak of their own, winners of five straight while outscoring opponents 15-0 in that run. The Knights are averaging 1.91 goals per game while holding opponents to just 0.91 per contest. Maybel Harris leads the attack with 15 points on six goals and three assists while Makinna Winterton has scored a team-high seven goals for 14 points. 

Following the Tuesday evening tilt, the Captains will return home for three straight starting with a return trip by Mary Washington on Saturday, October 14 at 4:00 pm. CNU will host the Eagles as part of a doubleheader with the men's teams at Captains Field.