Live Stats // Video Stream

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The seventh-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team will kick off the 2024 campaign on Friday at 6 p.m. when the Captains host Denison at Jennings Family Stadium.

For those fans unable to attend the game, live stats and a video stream of the action will be available at CNUsports.com. Direct links to both features can be found at the top of this release and on the schedule page.

Christopher Newport opens the year with high expectations after reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 last season. For the 17th consecutive year, the Captains earned a spot in the NFHCA National Preseason Coaches Poll after placing seventh in the organization's initial rankings. That stands as the program's highest preseason position since 2018.

After leading last year's team to a 17-1 record and the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles, several award-winning standouts are back in 2024. Last fall, Lily Kerr was a second-team All-American after ranking fourth in the NCAA with a remarkable .877 save percentage. Meanwhile, rising seniors Brooke Billhimer and Katie Abendschoen also received All-Region recognition last year, while Courtney Hughlett and Caroline Hughlett joined them on the All-Conference squad.

In addition to the decorated veterans, 11 returners broke into the starting lineup in 2023, including Lainey Pratzner, who started all 18 games.

Along with a host of defensive juggernauts, CNU returns a lethal collection of offensive standouts from last year. Seven Captains had double-digit point totals in 2023, including Caroline Hughlett, who ranked second on the squad with 26. Abendschoen and Courtney Hughlett also had at least 10 points apiece, as did Lindsey Loar, Maddison Steele, Emily Evans, and Delaney Norr.

Denison is coming off of a 2023 season in which the Big Red claimed the North Coast Athletic Conference Championship and earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament. The squad eventually finished the year with a 13-6 record, which was the program's top mark since 2019.

Listed second in this year's NCAC Preseason Coaches Poll, Denison welcomes back an impressive contingent from the 2023 squad. Among the returners, Athena Joannou ranked fifth in the NCAA with an impressive .851 save percentage last year, while Tabitha Chandler and Rachel Gilio secured All-Conference accolades for their efforts. Additionally, Katherine Flanagan was the 2023 NCAC Tournament MVP, and Emma Gebhart led the squad with 19 total points.

In five previous meetings between the two programs, CNU holds a 5-0 edge in the series, including a 5-0 triumph during a neutral-site tilt in Fredericksburg last fall. Loar and Evans starred during that contest with two goals apiece, while Joannou added 26 saves for the Big Red.

Following Friday's battle, Christopher Newport will return to action on September 7 when the team travels to Lancaster, Pennsylvania for an 11 a.m. showdown at No. 18 Franklin & Marshall.

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