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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- As part of a season-opening weekend that features two games, the fifth-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team will open the year with a challenge right out of the gate. The Captains (0-0-0) will travel across the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel on Friday evening to take on 12th-ranked Virginia Wesleyan University at 7:30 p.m. before welcoming Shenandoah University to Captains Field on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
The season-opening matchup against the nationally-ranked Marlins will be the newest chapter in a rivalry that has been played at least once every year since the inception of CNU Women's Soccer in 1997. The series is one of the most competitive battles in program history with Virginia Wesleyan boasting a slim one-game edge in the matchup with a 13-12-5 overall record against the Captains. CNU has held the advantage of late, capturing wins in six of the last seven matchups dating back to the 2018 season.
In Sunday's bout against Shenandoah, the Captains hold a more distinct advantage with a 13-3-1 mark against the Hornets but have not faced their former conference foes since 2014. Picked in the top half of the ODAC for the 2024 season, Shenandoah reached the conference tournament and finished the 2023 season with an 8-6-4 overall record.
Both games this weekend will be presented via a live video webcast and live stats will also be available. Links to both can be found on the women's soccer schedule at CNUsports.com.
Last season, the Captains earned a 2-0 win over Virginia Wesleyan in the regular season before facing them again in the NCAA Round of 16 in mid-November. In another hotly-contested head-to-head showing, the Captains prevailed in overtime against the Marlins when
Sarah Smith connected on a cross from
Emma Ricci for a thrilling winner less than a minute into extra time.
Ricci returns in 2024 to help lead the nationally-ranked Captains who will enter Friday night's matchup with one of the longest unbeaten streaks in NCAA history. Starting the fourth year under head coach
Jamie Gunderson, Christopher Newport has yet to suffer a loss in his tenure with a 60-0-7 overall record in the first three years. That unbeaten streak ranks second in Division III history after a second consecutive season at 19-0-3 a year ago.
Along with Ricci, the offense returns scoring leader
Hanna Heaton for her second season at CNU after leading the team in points (20), goals (7), and assists (6) last season. All-Region midfielder
Ellie Cox is back for her senior season while
Corinne Kulik and
Nyah Savage decided to exercise their right to return for a fifth year like Ricci. Savage has made 67 consecutive starts for the CNU back line while helping the defense post record-breaking numbers in her career. All-American center back
Reanna Slater is set to start her senior year after being named the C2C Defensive Player of the Year last season.
Virginia Wesleyan was picked to win the ODAC in the preseason coaches poll after a 17-4-2 season last year. This fall, head coach Jeff Bowers welcomes back leading scorer Shyenne Diaz, Alexis Miller, and Adrianna Gunther offensively to lead the way. Diaz scored 13 goals with wto assists last season and Miller added six goals and six assists.
Following the weekend action, the Captains will host UT Dallas and Ohio Northern University next weekend on September 6-8.
