NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Two of the nation's top defenses are prepared to matchup at Captains Field this weekend as the fifth-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team will welcome Trinity University (Texas) for a 5:00 p.m. kickoff on Friday evening. The Captains (4-0-1) will host the Tigers (3-0-2) in a doubleheader with the men's team, who will host Colorado College at 7:00 p.m.

The two teams set to face off have surrendered just one goal to their 10 combined opponents this year. Trinity leads the nation in goals-against average (0.00) and shutout percentage (1.000) as they have yet to allow a goal on route to their unbeaten start through five games. Christopher Newport has continued its stretch as one of the most dominant defenses in Division III, coming off the 54th shutout in the last 72 games played, and ranks 11th nationally in goals-against average (0.20) and 16th in shutout percentage (.800). 

Kicking off at 5:00 p.m., the game will be the sixth in the all-time series between the two programs. Christopher Newport is 4-1-0 all-time against the Tigers including the last two victories coming in the 2021 and 2022 NCAA Tournament. Live stats and a live video webcast will be available at CNUsports.com. Links to both can be found on the women's soccer schedule.

The CNU defense has been led by first team All-American center back Reanna Slater along with sophomore Bella DiTommaso and graduate student Nyah Savage. Savage is making her 73rd consecutive start on Friday night while all three have started every game so far this season. In goal, sophomore Amy Sidaway has done the bulk of the work with three shutouts and four victories as th Captains have gone 4-0-1 to start the year. 

Offensively, Christopher Newport has been led by junior Hanna Heaton with seven points on three goals and an assist. Four others have found the back of the net in the early portion of the season including sophomore Alex Dalakis twice, senior Ellie Cox, junior Molly Seventko, and freshman Grace Shifflett. Shifflett was named the C2C Offensive Player of the Week after knocking in the game-winning goal against then 10th-ranked Emory University. 

Trinity is coming off its finest offensive performance of the season with a seven-goal outburst against Howard Payne. The Tigers have a common opponent with Christopher Newport as they also played UTD and earned a 1-0 win after CNU captured a 3-0 victory against the Comets. Much like the Captains, Trinity limits opponent opportunities toward the net as sophomore Daryan Willyard leads the Tigers back line. This week, she was named the SCAC Defensive Player of the Week after leading the team to a pair of shutouts while allowing only five total shots in two games. 

The Friday night matchup is the lone game of the week for Christopher Newport, who is staring down history for Division III women's soccer with their next game. The Captains have not lost in 72 straight games, posting an overall record of 64-0-8 since the start of the 2021 season. One more game without a loss would tie the Division III record set by Messiah and would put only one program, the legendary University of North Carolina teams from the 80's and 90's, ahead of CNU's streak in NCAA women's soccer history at any level. 

Following the Friday night game against Trinity, CNU will be off until Friday, September 27 when they travel to face the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse at 4:00 p.m. The trip to the Badger State will also include a matchup with the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Sunday, September 29 at 10:30 a.m.