Swarthmore: Live Stats //
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Franklin & Marshall: Live Stats //
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*Please note that this week's games are currently scheduled to be streamed through the CNUAthletics Youtube channel rather than the typical CNUSports.com All-Access site*
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 15th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team will kick off the 2023 campaign with a pair of exciting battles this week at Jennings Family Stadium as the Captains welcome Swarthmore to town for the season opener on Friday at 3 p.m. before squaring off against No. 19 Franklin & Marshall in a top-20 showdown on Sunday at 11 a.m.
After making a run to the NCAA Sweet 16 last year, CNU opens 2023 with high expectations. The squad earned recognition in the NFHCA National Preseason Coaches Poll for the 16th consecutive season and will settle in for a pair of early tests against two top-flight foes.
Swarthmore is coming off of a 9-8 campaign in the vaunted Centennial Conference while ranking among the national leaders in scoring defense and save percentage. Meanwhile, Franklin & Marshall registered its 13th consecutive winning season last year after compiling a 13-5 record while climbing as high as 15th in the NFHCA National Coaches Poll.
Friday's contest will mark the first match-up between Swarthmore and Christopher Newport, while Franklin & Marshall knocked off the Captains, 2-0, during their initial battle last September.
CNU welcomes back an impressive veteran contingent from last year's team, which posted a 15-6 record. Headlining the returners,
Abby Asuncion and
Brooke Billhimer hauled in second-team All-American honors in 2022. Billhimer was also named the Synapse Sports National Defensive Player of the Year, while Asuncion was selected as the top player in Virginia for the second straight campaign.
In addition to the national award-winners,
Alexis Morales is a reigning All-Region selection, while
Lily Kerr and
Katie Abendschoen are All-State honorees. Overall, six Captains are back after starting all 21 bouts last year, while 10 veterans earned multiple starts in 2022. Among the veterans,
Maddison Steele ranked third on the team with 18 points and eight goals. Rising sophomore
Emily Evans also deposited eight strikes, while
Lainey Pratzner,
Delaney Norr, and
Chloe Thompson all had four assists apiece.
Swarthmore returns two of the team's top-three leading scorers from last season as Brooke Findlay notched 13 points and six goals, while Sophia Hitchingham had three strikes and four assists. Meanwhile, on the back end, Amanda Roessler returns after leading the Garnet with four defensive saves, and Cassandra Conklin posted a .764 save percentage and 1.50 goals-against-average during a standout freshman campaign.
Boasting an equally impressive veteran crew, Franklin & Marshall features a roster that includes nine seniors and 18 total upperclassmen. Among the returners, Carolina Riley was named the Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Year after helping the Diplomats record seven shutouts while also adding four goals on the offensive end. Additionally, Kat Thistlewaite is the league's reigning Rookie of the Year, while Darby Klopp and Sophie Carroll were two of the team's top-three leading goal-scorers last season.
F&M will open 2023 on Friday against Susquehanna before making the trek to Newport News. Meanwhile, Friday's bout will mark Swarthmore's first outing of the year.
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