Video Broadcast // Live Stats
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 15th-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team will wrap up its early-season homestand on Saturday at noon when the Captains welcome Vassar to Jennings Family Stadium for a non-conference showdown.
Entering the weekend, the Captains and Brewers both sit at 2-0 on the season. Saturday's bout marks CNU's third consecutive home game, while Vassar will hit the road for the first time this year.
For those fans unable to attend the game, there will be a live video broadcast of the action through Christopher Newport's official YouTube channel. Live stats will also be available for the contest. Direct links to both features can be found at the top of this release and on the schedule page.
CNU kicked off the year with back-to-back victories last week after knocking off Swarthmore, 3-0, in the season opener before upending No. 19 Franklin & Marshall, 2-1, on Sunday. During the two games, sophomore
Lily Kerr posted a .933 save percentage and 14 total stops. For that performance, she was honored as the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
Along with Kerr,
Brooke Billhimer served as a stabilizing force on the back line while playing all 120 minutes during the first two games. Freshman
Kendall Gibson also played every second of Sunday's nationally-ranked bout against the Diplomats, while
Lainey Pratzner and
Alexis Morales saw over 100 minutes apiece during the two contests.
Equally impactful on the offensive end, Morales assisted on each of the team's three goals in the opener before adding a strike of her own against Franklin & Marshall. Her three helpers on Friday equaled the fourth-most by a Captain in program history and the highest total since 2012.
Several freshmen also made their mark on the offensive side of the ball.
Lindsey Loar became the 19th player in school history to score a goal in her collegiate debut after registering a strike against Swarthmore. On Sunday, fellow first-year phenom
Caroline Hughlett collected the game-winner with a fourth-quarter dart against F&M.
Making an immediate impact on the program, Gibson, Loar, Hughlett,
Ellie Nuckols, and
Courtney Hughlett all earned a spot in the starting lineup on Friday, equaling the most freshman starters in a season opener in school history. The 2005 Captains also started five freshmen in their opener against Catawba.
Vassar was just as impressive in its first two games of the year as the team recorded back-to-back shutouts. The Brewers blanked Marywood, 4-0, before quieting Muhlenberg, 3-0. They are one of just 19 teams in the country that has yet to allow a single goal in 2023.
On an individual level, senior goalie Sarah Dumaresq has been spotless in her 90 minutes between the pipes, while Grace Wiley has a pair of saves off the bench. Kate Neikirk has chipped in with a defensive save as well. On the other end, Sofia Beseth has tallied four of the team's seven goals and was honored as the Liberty League's Offensive Performer of the Week.
Saturday's battle will mark the third all-time meeting between Christopher Newport and Vassar. The Captains currently hold a 2-0 record in the series, including a 3-2 overtime victory in their last match-up on October 14, 2019.
Abby Asuncion is the lone holdover from that contest as the reigning All-American played 52 minutes as a freshman during that marathon showdown.
Following this weekend's game, CNU will return to action on September 13 with a midweek trip to Bridgewater beginning at 4 p.m.
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