SALISBURY, Md. -- The nationally-ranked Christopher Newport men's soccer team is set to close out the regular season on Saturday afternoon as the Captains (10-2-4) travel to Salisbury University (7-5-4) for a matchup at the Gerry DiBartolo Sea Gull Soccer Complex. CNU will open November against the Sea Gulls with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Live stats and a live video webcast will be available for the action with links at CNUsports.com. 

The contest will be the 49th all-time meeting with Christopher Newport edging ahead in the series, 21-20-7, with a 1-0 win against the Sea Gulls earlier this year. In that matchup, senior Barry Jones connected on the game-winning goal after a beautiful combination of passes from Asher Kuzemka to Joe Summerfield. It would hold up as the lone goal of the game as Christopher Newport outshot Salisbury, 12-7. 

CNU is ranked No. 22 in the nation according to this week's United Soccer Coaches National Rankings and coming off a 1-0 setback to Mary Washington on Wednesday night. Against the Eagles, Christopher Newport outshot the visitors, 16-7, but surrendered a late goal to suffer just the second loss of the season. 

Three Captains are leading the scoring column in 2025 as Drew McWhinney (4g), Summerfield (3g, 2a), and Carson Friedlein (3g, 2a) have each chipped in eight points this season. CNU has put together one of the finest defensive seasons in program history with a 0.62 goals-against average in 16 games this year. That mark ranks the third lowest average all-time and the finest mark since a record 0.54 GAA in 2019. 

Friedlein leads the defense at center back alongside fellow sophomore Declan Karney. Yazan Yaghmmour and Ben Sullivan patrol the outside as the Captains defense has helped hold opponents to just 4.0 shots on-goal per game. Starting in goal, senior Hayden Dewey boasts a 0.60 GAA with eight shutouts and 46 saves this season. 

Salisbury will counter with a well-rested roster coming off a 1-1 draw at Mary Washington a week ago. Before that was the game against the Captains on October 18 and have played just three games in the last 23 days. The Sea Gulls feature David Brunetti at the top of the offense with seven goals scored this season. Liam Pierce has added four goals and two assists for 10 total points this year. 

Following Saturday's matchup on the road, Christopher Newport will return home and prepare to host the 2025 Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Championship starting Thursday, November 6. Full seeding and schedule will be announced on the championship website which can be found by clicking here.