VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Carrying the longest active unbeaten streak in NCAA soccer, the sixth-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team will open the 2023 season on Friday evening in a neutral site battle against UW-Oshkosh on the campus of Virginia Wesleyan University. The Captains will kick off against the Titans at 5:00 p.m. at Foster Field before returning home to take on Southwestern University at home on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. 

Christopher Newport has run off a string of 45 consecutive games without a loss dating back to the 2019 campaign. Under the direction of third-year head coach Jamie Gunderson, CNU has gone 41-0-4 including a 10-0-2 record in neutral site matchups. This weekend will serve as the first-ever matchups for the Captains against Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Southwestern. 

The host Marlins will present Friday evening's game via a live video webcast and live stats are also available. On Sunday, both will also be available with links found at CNUsports.com. 

Picked to repeat as conference champions in the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll, the Captains return tue bulk of their starting lineup from a year ago when CNU finished the season with a 19-0-3 record. Junior goalkeeper Jaya Daniel will lean on a veteran defense that includes Reanna Slater, Nyah Savage, and Kate Eissenberg after the back line secured 16 shutouts in 2022. 

Offensively, fifth-year senior Sarah Smith returns after earning All-American honors in each of the last two seasons. She led the attack with 23 points on 11 goals and one assist while a bevy of veterans will add depth to the action moving forward. Emma Ricci, Corinne Kulik, and Natalie Swarm make up a dangerous trio of seniors up top while second-year standout Molly Seventko also returns to the rotation in 2023. 

UW-Oshkosh returns a veteran team as well after a 5-9-5 performance in 2022. The Titans welcome back the 2021 Newcomer of the Year, Molly Jackson, and fellow first team All-League performer Rylie Kaufmann. Oshkosh was picked fourth in the preseason WIAC poll while playing under 19-year coaching veteran Erin Coppernoll. 

On Sunday, CNU will play their home opener against Southwestern to wrap up the first weekend of action. Kickoff against the Pirates is 11:00 a.m. Southwestern was picked second in the SCAC Coaches Poll and heads into the year having averaged 12 wins in each of the last two seasons. Featuring an offense that scored nearly two goals per game, the Pirates are led by returning stars Samantha Hazen and Laren Gradt after combining for 13 goals and 12 assists last season. 

Following the opening weekend, the Captains will stay at home for their annual classic tournament next weekend, welcoming in Gettysburg (Sep 8) and Pacific Lutheran (Sep 9).