Franklin & Marshall: Live Stats // Video Stream
Haverford: Live Stats // Video Stream

LANCASTER, Pa. -- The seventh-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team will hit the road for a pair of games this weekend when the Captains travel to No. 18 Franklin & Marshall on Saturday at Tylus Field before heading to Haverford on Sunday for a battle at Swan Field.

Both contests are scheduled to start at 11 a.m. For those fans unable to attend the games, live stats and a video stream of both bouts will be available at GoDiplomats.com and HaverfordAthletics.com. Direct links can be found at the top of this release and on the schedule page.

Entering the weekend, CNU sits at 1-0 after knocking off Denison, 4-0, in the season opener on Friday. Blanking the Big Red, the Captains did not allow a single shot during the 60-minute masterpiece. The visitors managed to enter the circle six times, but Christopher Newport broke up every rally before a shot could be taken.

Leading the way, Katie Abendschoen helped stymie three of Denison's runs and was named the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week for that performance. She also added an assist on the team's fourth goal. That was her 50th career point, making her just the 19th Captain to reach that benchmark.

Along with Abendschoen's award-winning work, Brooke Billhimer and Kendall Gibson helped solidify the back line, while Riley Iasiello pressured a shooter on a corner attempt and prevented the attacker from uncorking a rip from the top of the circle. Overall, the Big Red became just the third CNU opponent since 2019 to go an entire game without a shot.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the field, Caroline Hughlett finished with four points after posting a goal and her first career multi-assist effort. Maddison Steele, Lindsey Loar, and Emily Evans also found the back of the cage during the victory.

Picking up the win with a spotless performance between the pipes, Lily Kerr walked away with her 30th career victory. The reigning All-American became just the third Captain to reach that mark, joining longtime legends Emma Stout and Bailey Lien. Friday's contest was also her 12th career shutout, moving her five away from tying Lien's all-time program record.

Franklin & Marshall opened the 2024 campaign with a pair of hard-fought road setbacks. The Diplomats dropped a 1-0 decision at Susquehanna in the opener on Friday before falling at No. 15 SUNY Cortland, 4-3, during an overtime marathon on Sunday. In the latter contest, F&M overcame an early 2-0 deficit to force the extra session, but the Red Dragons converted in the 62nd minute off a penalty corner to steal the win.

Named to the NFHCA National Preseason Watchlist, Meghan Dole has been a standout in the cage for Franklin & Marshall. The sophomore goalie already has 15 saves, including eight against SUNY Cortland. Meanwhile, Jessica Miller has three points, while Megan Dadio and Caitlin Hoover have also scored for the Diplomats.

Haverford kicked off the season with back-to-back victories after defeating Eastern, 3-1, on Saturday before taking down Stockton, 1-0, on Wednesday. In the opener, the Fords overcame an early 1-0 deficit with three straight goals in the second half. Four days later, the squad continued its late-game heroics after Ileana Rodriguez deposited the lone goal in the 57th minute against Stockton.

So far this season, Erica Pardon leads Haverford with three points, including the game-winner against Eastern. Meanwhile, on the defensive side, Mary Smith has made six saves while compiling an impressive .857 save percentage. Four of her stops came in the shutout victory over Stockton.

Christopher Newport holds a 1-1 record in two previous meetings against both Haverford and Franklin & Marshall. The Captains knocked off F&M, 2-1, last season as Hughlett sank the clincher in the 50th minute. Meanwhile, in the most recent meeting with the Fords, CNU walked away with a 7-0 win in 2022 as Evans drove home a pair of goals for the victors.

After this weekend, CNU will return to action on September 14 at 1 p.m. when the Captains face No. 5 Messiah in a neutral-site test at Mary Washington's Battleground Turf Field in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

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