NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Concluding an eight-game homestand to start the 2024 season, Christopher Newport head coach
Justin Chezem and the 13th-ranked men's soccer program is scheduled to host one of the most impressive fields ever assembled at Captains Field for three games this weekend. First, No. 3 Colorado College will take on the host Captains on Friday night at 7:00 p.m.; then, No. 1 Mary Washington and Colorado College will matchup on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. ahead of the finale, featuring CNU and No. 9 Rowan University at 7:00 p.m.
In addition to the high-quality soccer on display, the Christopher Newport men's soccer program will celebrate the first 50 years of the program with a special ceremony during halftime of Saturday night's contest. The Captains will welcome back nearly a quarter of the 500+ players that have donned the Royal Blue and Silver since the program's inception in 1974 and celebrate the over 535 victories compiled in the first 50 years.
For fans unable to attend in person, live stats and a live video webcast will be available at CNUsports.com. Links to both can be found on the men's soccer schedule.
The Captains vaulted into the top-15 this week after continuing a six-game unbeaten streak to start the year with a 4-0-2 overall record. The Colorado College Tigers have put together a 5-0-1 start to the year as they head to Newport News for the first time and just the second ever meeting between the two teams. Last year, Colorado College earned a 3-2 win over the Captains in the inaugural matchup.
On Saturday, Mary Washington will play against the Tigers in their second game since being tapped the top team in Division III so far this season. Heading into the weekend, the Eagles are 6-0-0 and will face No. 9 Rowan in a Friday night matchup at home before the Profs travel down to Newport News for Saturday's bout against Christopher Newport. It will be the fourth time CNU has faced Rowan and the first since 2021 as the Captains hold a 2-1-0 edge in the series. It's also the first time Rowan has traveled to Captains Field.
Christopher Newport is averaging 2.0 goals per game so far this season while ranking 16th nationally in shutout percentage with a .667 rate and holding opponents to just four total goals so far. Junior goalkeeper
Hayden Dewey has three shutouts while the back line has been led by
Asher Kuzemka,
Declan Karney,
Yazan Yaghmmour, and
Caleb Jones. Offensively,
Manzi Siibo leads the team with three goals this season while
Barry Jones and
Jason LaViola have each pitched in one gamewinner and three assists from the outside.
Colorado College features a dangerous offense that ranks seventh nationally in total attempts and 15th in points per game. A balanced attack is led by Vincent Luglio with eight points on four goals while Jack Hilliard (2g, 3a) and Luke Stefanski (3g, 1a) have each added seven points so far. The defense is equally formidable, surrendering just two goals in six games this season for a 0.33 goals-against average. Between the pipes, Spencer Bsselaar has started four games while Alex Wolter has played in the other two.
Rowan enters Saturday's matchup having faced one of the most challenging schedules of the year with the Captains serving as the fifth-ranked team in six outings. The Profs tied No. 17 Franklin & Marshall, defeated No. 24 Johns Hopkins, tied No. 2 Cortland, and will face off against top-ranked Mary Washington on Friday night. Taking on the difficult schedule, Rowan is 2-1-3 and still ranked in the top-ten nationally. Johnny Troiano leads the offense with 14 points on six goals and two assists this season.
Following the busy weekend, Christopher Newport will hit the road for the first time as they travel to Ohio for a pair of matchups next week. CNU will take on Denison University and then No. 4 Kenyon College on September 27 and 29, respectively.
