NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Heading into the 2023 season ranked No. 21 in the nation, the Christopher Newport men's soccer team received three first-place votes and was selected to finish second in the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll released on Tuesday. The Captains were edged out by two points and two first-place votes received by the favorites, Mary Washington, heading into the season.
Mary Washington led the poll with 47 points and five first-place votes while CNU collected 45 points and the remaining three first-place votes. Wisconsin-Whitewater (34 pts) and Salisbury (28 pts) were picked next, followed by a tie for fifth in the preseason rankings UC Santa Cruz and Wisconin-Platteville (25 pts). Rounding out the 2023 rankings were Warren Wilson (11 pts) and Pratt Institute (9 pts).
The Captains are coming off a third consecutive postseason appearance under head coach
Justin Chezem and have secured a third consecutive start in the preseason national poll for just the second time in program history (2010-12).
CNU finished the 2022 campaign with a 13-4-2 overall record and reached the C2C Championship Game, which extended into penalty kicks before Mary Washington secured the title over the Captains. Earning an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament, the Captains disposed of Rosemont College in the opening round before a hard-luck loss to Catholic, 2-0, in overtime during the second round of the tournament.
Christopher Newport ranked 13th nationally in shutout percentage a year ago, holding their opponents scoreless in 57.9 percent of games. The defense ranks in the top-ten all-time at CNU with a goals-against average of 0.770 and a save percentage of 0.797.
Heading into this season, the majority of that stifling defense returns including senior
Jonathon Leiding and fifth year
Jacob Dudley. Juniors
Jonah Fitz and
Trevor Smith also played pivotal roles in the back line alongside All-Region midfielder
Kyle Stenzel, who played both defense and midfield a year ago.
The Captains' schedule opens next weekend with the Steve Shaw Classic played at Captains Field on September 1 -2. Christopher Newport will open on Friday, September 1 against Berry College at 5:00 p.m. before also hosting the University of Lynchburg at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 2.
| 2023 C2C Men's Soccer Preseason Poll |
|
Rank
|
Institution
|
Points (1st)
|
|
1.
|
Mary Washington
|
47 (5)
|
| 2. |
Christopher Newport |
45 (3) |
| 3. |
Wisconsin-Whitewater |
34 |
| 4. |
Salisbury |
28 |
| T5. |
Wisconsin-Platteville |
25 |
| T5. |
UC Santa Cruz |
25 |
| 7. |
Warren Wilson |
11 |
| 8. |
Pratt |
9 |
