Live Stats // Video Stream
SALISBURY, Md. -- The fifth-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team will complete its two-game road swing on Wednesday at 4 p.m. when the Captains travel to No. 2 Salisbury for a top-five test at Sea Gull Stadium.
Entering the midweek matinée, CNU sits at 9-0 on the season, including 5-0 on the road. Meanwhile, Salisbury is 11-1 with a 6-0 mark at home.
For those fans unable to attend the game, live stats and a video stream of the action will be available at SUSeaGulls.com. Direct links to both features can be found at the top of this release and on the schedule page.
After knocking off Catholic, 2-0, last Wednesday, Christopher Newport extended its road winning streak to 10 straight games dating back to last season. That stands as the longest streak in program history and the second-longest active run in the nation. Facing one of their toughest challenges during that stretch, the Captains travel to Sea Gull Stadium where Salisbury has won 13 consecutive home games, which is the fifth-longest streak in the NCAA.
Entering the contest, CNU has yet to trail in any game this season. Only three other collegiate field hockey teams have yet to fall behind at any point in 2024. Christopher Newport is joined in that category by fellow Division III programs Williams and Wittenberg as well as Division I power North Carolina.
The Captains and Tar Heels are also the only teams in the NCAA that have scored at least two goals and allowed one or less in every game this season. Currently, CNU is fourth in the country in scoring defense (0.44 goals-against-average) and 22nd in scoring offense (3.11 goals-per-game).
On an individual level,
Lily Kerr is second in the NCAA in goals-against-average (0.37) and 11th in save percentage (.850).
Courtney Hughlett is also seventh with a 0.78 assists-per-game rate.
Along with the nationally-ranked standouts,
Brooke Billhimer is the reigning Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week after registering her second defensive save of the year during the squad's battle with Catholic. She and
Kendall Gibson are the only players in the league with multiple defensive saves this year, while
Ellie Nuckols is tied with Billhimer for the team-lead with five blocked shots.
On the offensive end,
Maddison Steele leads the team with seven goals and 18 points. The senior has contributed at least one point in each of her last three appearances, including a multi-goal eruption against Centre on October 5. Additionally,
Delaney Norr and
Caroline Hughlett have nine points apiece.
Salisbury enters Wednesday on a five-game winning streak, including a 5-2 triumph over Mary Washington on Saturday. The Sea Gulls already have five wins against nationally-ranked competition this season, including a 1-0 shutout against No. 8 York (Pa.) earlier this month.
So far this year, Salisbury is seventh in the nation in goals-against-average (0.63) and sixth in save percentage (.857). On an individual level, Abbey McIlvain leads the country with a 0.32 goals-against-average. Offensively, the Sea Gulls are averaging 3.92 goals per game, while Arden Hunteman ranks eighth on the national charts with a personal 1.27 rate.
In 32 previous meetings between the two programs, Salisbury holds a 24-8 edge in the series. However, CNU swept both games last year, including a 2-0 victory in the league championship.
Following Wednesday's tilt, Christopher Newport will return to action on Saturday with an 11 a.m. battle against No. 18 SUNY New Paltz at Jennings Family Stadium.
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