NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Wrapping up a six-game homestand to start the year, the 14th-ranked Christopher Newport men's soccer team will welcome North Carolina Wesleyan University and William Peace University for matchups at Captains Field this weekend. First up, the Captains (3-0-0) will take on the Battling Bishops (2-1-2) following the CNU football game on Saturday night. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.

The second game of the weekend will feature the Pacers of William Peace (2-1-1) at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday night. It will be the first-ever matchup between the Captains and Pacers, who are in the 12th year of the program. CNU and N.C. Wesleyan have met much more frequently, as members of the same league from 1972-2013 -- first in the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference which was then renamed the USA South Athletic Conference. CNU owns a small edge in the all-time series, with a win-loss record of 24-18-8 in 50 all-time games played. It will be the first since 2018, however, as CNU won 3-2 to make it nine straight wins over the Bishops. 

Live stats and a live video stream will be available for both games, with links found on the CNUsports.com website through the men's soccer schedule. 

The Captains are coming off a 3-1 win over Marymount University last weekend after a postponement moved the game to Sunday and canceled an originally scheduled affair with Randolph. In the win, Trevor Smith, Mason Field, and Drew McWhinney each found the back of the net, including the second gamewinner of the short season for Field. 

The veteran midfielder currently leads the team in scoring with six points on three goals while Luke Peri, McWhinney, and Smith each have added goals as well. The defense has surrendered just one goal per game so far with sophomore netminder Hayden Dewey starting all three games and playing the full 270 minutes thus far. 

The back line is led by veterans Kyle Stenzel, Jonathon Leiding, Jacob Dudley, and Ryan Kiely, while newcomers Ben Stefanon and Yazan Yaghmmour have added depth on defense. In the defensive midfield, Smith and Colin Skwirut have shared time helping lock down opposing attacks. 

N.C. Wesleyan opened the season with an impressive 1-1 draw at Johns Hopkins behind a goal from leading scorer Bastien Dechamps. The Bishops have gone on to post a pair of wins and another tie since that opening game and come into Saturday night's primetime action averaging 1.60 goals per game while allowing 1.20 per contest. Dechamps and Tiago Feler each have two goals to lead the way. 

William Peace bounced back from a loss at Bridgewater to post wins over Guilford and Bethany in their last two games. The Pacers will play Saturday afternoon against Virginia Wesleyan before checking up against the Captains on Sunday evening. Leading scorer Ethan Gillette has not found the back of the net yet, but has set up four of the seven goals scored by William Peace this season. Brennan Lagana has both game-winning goals and matches Gillette with four points so far. 

Following the two games this weekend, Christopher Newport will hit the road for the first time, flying out to Colorado Springs for a pair. First, CNU will take on Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference foe UC Santa Cruz on Friday, September 22 before then facing host Colorado College on Saturday, September 23.