NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Hosting a nationally-ranked matchup on Homecoming Weekend at Christopher Newport, the 13th-ranked CNU women's soccer team will take on 12th-ranked Swarthmore College (11-1-2) at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. The matchup is the final home game of the regular season for the Captains (10-1-2), who will host a special pregame ceremony for Senior Day prior to kickoff. 

Part of a busy slate on Homecoming Saturday, the Captains will take the field immediately following the nationally-ranked football team's matchup against Kean University and before the nationally-ranked men's soccer team faces Salisbury University. Also on campus, the CNU volleyball team will be competing in the Coast-To-Coast Invitational in the Freeman Center. 

At Captains Field, nine players will be recognized before taking the pitch for the final time in the regular season at home. In alphabetical order, the senior class includes Katy Bronski, Alex Dalakis, Alex Devers, Kyleigh Gough, Hanna Heaton, Abby Ochs, QB Osuna, Molly Seventko, and Hannah Taylor. The group of nine veterans has been an integral piece of the success of CNU Women's Soccer over the last four years while leading CNU to an overall record of 67-3-10 (.900) in their tenure. The Captains have reached the postseason in each of their first three years with two appearances in the NCAA National Quarterfinals and one trip to the NCAA National Semifinals. 

The series against the talented Swarthmore side started in 2022 and the team's have faced off in each of the last three seasons. Christopher Newport has won all three by the slimmest of margins with one-goal victories in each. It will be just the second home game against the Garnet after CNU won in 2023, 1-0. 

Live stats and a live video webcast will be available for all fans unable attend with links found on the women's soccer page at CNUsports.com. 

CNU is coming off a 2-0 win against Virginia Wesleyan that saw senior Hanna Heaton factor into both goals with a score and an assist. She continues to climb the all-time scoring charts at Christopher Newport and ranks eight in career points with 79. Heaton is also third in career assists with 27. Also scoring in the game was junior Alex Devers with her fourth tally of the season and her second game-winning strike. She reached 25 career points with the goal after scoring her 12th total and sixth gamewinner. 

Fellow senior Molly Seventko ranks second on the team in scoring with 11 points while Kyleigh Gough and Katy Bronski have each chipped in four points each this season. Gough has helped buoy the defense which has allowed just four goals in 13 games this season. 

Swarthmore enters the Saturday afternoon matchup riding an eight-game winning streak while improving to 11-1-2 on the year. The Garnet is balanced offensively and defensively while ranking 20th nationally in shots per game while also posting the 23rd best goals-against average in Division III. Ava Gizzie leads the attack with 10 goals scored for 20 points while Celia Kanellakos has added 17 points on seven goals and three assists. In goal, Dahlia Bedward has started 12 games and allowed seven goals for a 0.67 GAA. 

Following the Homecoming Weekend tilt, the Captains will close out the regular season on the road with games against Methodist University (Oct 21) and Salisbury University (Nov 1).