INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Making program history with hosting duties for the fifth consecutive year, the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team will play at Captains Field this weekend to open the 2025 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. CNU (14-1-3) was selected to host postseason matchups at Captains Field beginning on Saturday.
CNU will face off against Penn State Harrisburg (14-5-4) in the opening round at 4:30 p.m. while also welcoming in Rowan (13-1-4) to take on Misericordia (15-4-1) at 7:00 p.m. The two advancing teams will play on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. in the second round with a Round of 16 berth on the line. Penn State Harrisburg won their second straight United East Championship with a PK shootout victory over St. Mary's (Md.). Rowan, ranked No. 11 in the nation last week, tied Montclair State in the NJAC Championship before suffering a penalty kick shootout loss and earned an at-large berth. Also earning an at-large berth were the Cougars from Misericordia after falling in the MAC Freedom title game.
Live stats and a live video webcast of all three games will be available online at NCAA.com. Ticket prices will be $10 for adults and $5 for student/seniors. CNU students will be admitted free with a valid ID, courtesy of CNU Athletics. Tickets will go on sale one hour prior to the first game each day.
Ranked 10th in the most recent NPI ratings and having earned the automatic qualifying berth by virtue of winning the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference, the Christopher Newport Captains will make the 17th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history including the ninth straight in 2025. CNU boasts a 25-13-2 all-time record in the postseason tournament with two Final Four finishes and a national championship victory in 2021.
The Captains are hosting for the fifth straight year, marking the first time in program history the postseason has been played in Newport News as many years in a row. By mere hours, the Captains will become just the second team in CNU Athletics history to host five consecutive years, joining the top-ranked CNU Field Hockey team who will welcome in NCAA Tournament action at Jennings Family Stadium. Previously, the men's basketball, men's soccer, men's lacrosse, and softball teams all had four consecutive hosting assignments.
CNU earned its trip to the postseason via a thrilling overtime championship winner from senior
Molly Seventko in the 95th minute on Sunday. Taking on UC Santa Cruz in the title game for the second straight year, the Captains captured the program's 13th conference championship trophy including four in five seasons under head coach
Jamie Gunderson.
The Captains feature one of the most dominant defenses in the nation, allowing just five goals in 18 games played for a 0.28 goals-against average. C2C Tournament MVP
Amy Sidaway is at the head of the defensive unit by starting all 18 games in goal while playing full time in 11 of the 13 team shutouts this year. On the back line, senior
Kyleigh Gough and junior
Bella DiTommaso are joined by rookies
Addy Hennessy,
Nora Cook, and
Malayah Warner to limit opposing options offensively. On the other end of the field, senior
Hanna Heaton assisted on the game-winning goal by Seventko and picked up her team-leading fifth helper of the year. She leads CNU in goals and points as well with eight tallies and 21 total points this year. Seventko ranks second on the team with five goals and three assists for 13 points.
Penn State Harrisburg is making the third postseason appearance in program history. The Lions are riding a 10-game unbeaten streak which includes a 1-0 win over fourth-ranked Messiah. PSH ranks 21st nationally in scoring offense, pouring in 3.09 goals per game this season while being led by Diana Pon with 45 points on 17 goals and 11 assists.
CNU will be back in postseason action after finishing out the 2024 campaign in the NCAA Division III National Semifinals against eventual national champion WashU. The Captains are 15-1-2 in NCAA Tournament action over the last four seasons.
