FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- The Christopher Newport men's soccer team is back in action on Saturday, October 12 as they hit the road to face top-ranked Mary Washington (12-0-1) for a 3:00 p.m. kickoff against the Eagles. The Captains are 5-3-3 overall this season and receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches national rankings this week.
Live stats and a live video webcast will be available courtesy of the Mary Washington athletics department at game time. The game will be played as a doubleheader with the women's teams set to kickoff at 1:00 p.m.
The all-time series between the two programs dates back to 1977 and is one of the most competitive matchups for both teams. Christopher Newport holds a 26-23-7 advantage in the series but the two teams are 3-3-3 over the last nine. Only one of those nine games were decided by more than one goal as the two teams have been intertwined in a fiercely competitive rivalry.
Mary Washington has won four in a row and are unbeaten this season with the nation's best overall record at 12-0-1. The Eagles are ranked No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 and have held that position since Tuesday, September 17 when the Captains were ranked No. 9 in the nation.
The CNU midfield has been a solid unit for the Captains all season long with wingers
Jason LaViola and
Barry Jones ranking second and third on the team in scoring. The depth in the middle is led by fifth-year senior
Mason Field and senior
Trevor Smith while sophomores
Colin Skwirut and
Miles Maggioncalda are having solid second years for CNU as well. LaViola and Jones have combined for eight of the team's 14 assists this year; Smith is one of only six CNU players to start all 11 games this year and is serving as one of the team captains.
The Eagles will counter the Captains with one of the most aggressive attacks in the nation, ranking second overall in shots and sixth nationally in shots on-goal. The 19th-ranked scoring offense in the nation is led by Sammy Amorose with 23 points on 10 goals and three assists. Carter Berg is also adding six goals this season, including three winning strikes.
Following the trip to Fredericksburg, CNU will return to action the following Saturday at Salisbury University for a 3:00 p.m. kickoff against the Sea Gulls.
