Live Stats // Video Stream
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- After three straight road games, the sixth-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team will host back-to-back battles at Jennings Family Stadium when the Captains square off against Ohio Wesleyan on Friday at 4 p.m. before taking on No. 9 York (Pa.) on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Entering Friday, the Captains sit at 4-0 overall, including 1-0 at home. Meanwhile, Ohio Wesleyan and York (Pa.) are both 5-1. Rounding out an exciting weekend of action at Jennings Family Stadium, the Battling Bishops and Spartans will also face each other in a neutral-site showdown on Saturday at 2 p.m.
For those fans unable to attend the games, live stats and a video stream of all three contests 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 is riding a four-game winning streak, including a 2-1 triumph over Messiah last Saturday. Against the Falcons,
Delaney Norr and
Katie Abendschoen both scored for the Captains, while
Kendall Gibson added her first career defensive save on the other end of the field. Additionally,
Lily Kerr pocketed three saves while recording her 33rd career victory. That moved her into sole possession of second-place on the program's all-time wins list.
Along with Kerr's historic effort, Abendschoen and
Brooke Billhimer also made the history books. The two standouts started their 60th consecutive game on Saturday. That moved them into a tie with former legend Shelby Judkins for the third-longest "Iron Man" streak in program lore. Only Christopher Newport Hall of Famers Jacque Mayer (68) and
Marlene Lichty (63) have longer starting streaks at CNU.
So far this season, the Captains rank fourth in the nation in scoring defense (0.50 goals against average) and 20th in scoring offense (3.25 goals per game). Overall, CNU is one of just five field hockey programs in the entire NCAA that has scored at least two goals and allowed one or less in every game this year. Along with Christopher Newport, the only other collegiate programs that have accomplished that feat in 2024 are North Carolina, Ohio State, Middlebury, and Salisbury.
Ohio Wesleyan enters Friday on a three-game roll, including wins over Rhodes and Centre last weekend. So far this year, the Battling Bishops feature a high-powered offense, which is averaging 3.67 goals per game. That ranks 12th in the NCAA. On an individual level, Olivia Danley has scored seven times, including three game-winners.
York (Pa.) comes into the weekend after knocking off No. 3 Johns Hopkins, 3-2, during a double-overtime marathon on Tuesday. Olivia Miller netted the final blow in the 73rd minute off a feed from Riley Buschert. Along with the offensive firepower, the Spartans rank 17th in the NCAA this season in both goals-against-average (0.81) and save percentage (.844).
Friday's contest will mark CNU's first ever meeting with Ohio Wesleyan, while the Captains are 6-3 all-time against York (Pa.).
After this weekend, Christopher Newport will return to the road on September 28 for a trip to Vassar.
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