NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Headlining a busy weekend of soccer action on the Christopher Newport campus this weekend, the nationally-ranked CNU Women's Soccer team will welcome in three teams for the 2023 Captains Classic on Friday, September 8 and Saturday, September 9. With game times scheduled for 5:00 and 7:30 p.m. on both days, fans will be treated to a pair of top-ten programs in the 6th-ranked Captains and 4th-ranked Virginia Wesleyan Marlins taking on out-of-towners from Gettysburg College and Pacific Lutheran University. 

The quartet of women's games are part of six soccer games to played at Captains Field this weekend as the CNU men's team will also play on Saturday and Sunday. All six games will be available through a live video stream and live stats will be presented for all six as well. Links can be found on the composite schedule at CNUsports.com or via each individual team's page. 

For the sixth-ranked CNU women, the first matchup will be Gettysburg College in Friday's nightcap following a Pacific Lutheran/Virginia Wesleyan game at 5:00 pm. The Captains are 2-0-0 so far this season with a 3-1 win over UW-Oshkosh and a 2-0 victory against Southwestern University. Heading into the weekend, CNU is 2-1-0 all-time against the Bullets and will be playing the Lutes of Pacific Lutheran for the first time in program history. 

The 2023 schedule offers fans a unique look at the Division III landscape as head coach Jamie Gunderson's squad will face teams from six different states through the first six games. Gettysburg, out of Pennsylvania, comes into the weekend with an 0-1-1 mark, and Pacific Lutheran, from the state of Washington, enters with a 1-0-1 mark. 

So far this season, the Captains have been led by Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week Alex Devers with a pair of game-winning goals while senior Corinne Kulik has added one goal and one assist in two games. Rounding out the goal scorers so far this season are Natalie Swarm and Clare Davis, who each notched insurance tallies in the first weekend. 

Defensively, the Captains have surrendered just one goal, on a penalty kick, while holding opponents to just four total shots on goal. Veterans Reanna Slater and Nyah Savage start on the back line with sophomore Jackie Stallard while newcomer Bella DiTommaso has also seen action on defense. In goal, junior Jaya Daniel has played all 180 minutes posting one shutout and a .750 save percentage so far. 

Gettysburg tied Goucher in the season opener, 1-1, before suffering a 2-1 setback to York (Pa.) in the Bullets' home opening weekend. Morgan Hobson had the goal against the Gophers while Jane Daiutolo found the net late in the game against the Spartans.

Pacific Lutheran is coming off a 3-0 win over La Verne following a scoreless draw at Cal Lutheran last weekend. Lily Dose leads the Lutes with a pair of goals including the lone winner so far. Julia Causbie has the other goal while the defense has yet to allow a goal in 180 minutes of action.

The Captains and Marlins will not face off this weekend but have a date Tuesday night at Captains Field. Virginia Wesleyan is also 2-0-0 this season after reaching the NCAA National Semifinals last year.