NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Following a standout performance on the back line for the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team, junior
Bella DiTommaso was named the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the first time of her career. She and the rest of the No. 13 CNU Women's Soccer team will return to action on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. when they travel to Methodist University (4-2-6) for the penultimate regular game of the season.
DiTommaso earned her first career Player of the Week certificate and the sixth defensive nod of the season for Christopher Newport. The Captains have earned 25 of the last 29 conference Defensive Player of the Week selections by the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference.
The Ashburn, Va. native played the full 90 minutes in both games, including a shutout against Virginia Wesleyan to start the 2-0-0 performance by the Captains. She also scored the game's first goal and added an assist on the game-winning goal against nationally-ranked Swarthmore on Saturday. DiTommaso has now played full time in seven straight games and 13 of 14 total games this year -- she has played in all but eight minutes on the back line (99.4 percent of possible minutes).
The Captains have nine shutouts in 14 games and have only surrendered five goals in 2025. Her goal against the 12th-ranked Garnet opened the scoring and came off a free kick from long distance. Her assist was a throw-in to All-American
Hanna Heaton in the second half that lifted CNU to victory.
CNU travels to Methodist on Tuesday riding a three-game winning streak while improving to 11-1-2 on the season. The Captains own a 21-6-4 advantage in the all-time series against the Monarchs after playing in the same conference from 1997-2012. Since, the teams have continued the series and the Captains have won 12 in a row against the former conference foe.
The last time Christopher Newport traveled to Fayetteville was in 2023 and the Captains secured a 1-0 win with
Ellie Cox capturing the game-winning goal in the 79th minute.
Amy Sidaway started and played the full game in goal, making one save, while securing the shutout win.
This year, the Captains defense is stout again, holding opponents to just a 0.36 goals-against average to rank 11th in NCAA Division III. Sidaway has locked up eight solo shutouts and the Captains have only allowed 98 total shots (7.0 per game) this season. DiTommaso is paired with rookies
Addy Hennessy,
Malayah Warner, and senior
Kyleigh Gough on the back line in 2025.
Offensively, Heaton has caught fire, factoring into three of the last four goals for CNU and raising her team lead in the scoring column to 16 points (6g, 4a).
Molly Seventko has added 11 points (4g, 3a) and
Alex Devers has also scored four goals this season.
Methodist will host the Captains for the Play 4Kay Pink Game at Duggins Soccer Stadium while coming in winners of the last two matches. The Monarchs defeated Pfeiffer, 5-0, and Mary Baldwin, 2-1, heading into the midweek matchup. Emy Cloutier, with two goals and three assists, and Haley Cousins, with three goals and one assist, lead the Methodist offense with seven points apiece. Defensively, the Monarchs have been tough to score on, allowing just 11 goals in 12 games for a 0.92 goals against average this year. Carolina Simpkins has started seven games with a 1.16 GAA and Kaylea Carter has started five games with a 0.60 GAA.
The second to last game of the season will be available through live stats or a live video webcast online with links found at CNUsports.com.
Following the trip to North Carolina, the Captains will return home before a final road trip to Salisbury University on Saturday, November 1 with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
