NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Kicking off the 2025 season with six straight home games, the Christopher Newport men's soccer team will get things started this weekend with a pair of contests at Captains Field. CNU hosts the United States Merchant Marine Academy (0-0) at 7:00 p.m. on Friday before taking on the eighth-ranked Red Devils of Dickinson College (0-0) at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. 

Live stats and a live video webcast will be available online for both contests. Links to both can be found through the men's soccer schedule on CNUsports.com. Admission to men's soccer games in Newport News is free of charge and gates open an hour before kickoff. On Friday, the men's game will be played immediately following the conclusion of a women's matchup against Merchant Marine at 5:00 p.m.

Under the direction of head coach Justin Chezem for his sixth season, the Captains were picked second in the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. CNU opened the 2024 campaign unbeaten through the first eight games and climbed into the top-ten of the United Soccer Coaches Top 25. This year, the Captains bring back the bulk of the starting lineup while adding an exciting stable of incoming talent. 

First up, CNU will take on USMMA for the first time in program history. The Mariners featured five All-Conference performers a year ago and return two first team All-Skyline selections in defender Tyson Mallas and goalkeeper Ethan Howell. Merchant Marine was 9-6-3 a year ago and averaged 2.39 goals per game while holding opponents to a 1.28 mark. 

On Saturday, Christopher Newport will face a Dickinson squad that reached the NCAA National Quarterfinals a year ago and the Red Devils return all four of their All-Region performers from 2024. Seniors Saul Iwowo and Ethan Jarden eached earned All-American plaudits for their work up top while sophomores Nicholas Dwamena and Timi Omoniwa also earned All-Region honors. It will be just the second meeting all-time between the two programs and the first in almost exactly 40 years as the two programs last played on September 3, 1995. 

Wearing the Royal Blue and Silver, junior Drew McWhinney is back after leading the offense with 12 points in his sophomore season. First Team All-Conference forward Manzi Siibo returns for his senior campaign after recording four goals and an assist last season. Defensively, the Captains return All-Region senior Asher Kuzemka while classmate Hayden Dewey returns between the pipes after starting all 18 in net last year. 

Following the first weekend of action, CNU will remain at home when they welcome William Paterson and Redlands next week. The Captains take on William Paterson at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 6 before facing Redlands at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 7.