COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- After improving to 6-0 on the season, the Christopher Newport field hockey team attained the program's highest ranking in the history of the NFHCA National Coaches Poll as CNU jumped up two spots to earn the No. 2 position in the latest rankings, which were announced by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association on Tuesday morning.

The Captains earned 447 points in the poll, which slotted them just behind Middlebury, who continued to hold down the top spot after securing all 19 first-place votes. After CNU, Johns Hopkins, Salisbury, and Williams rounded out the top-five.

The No. 2 ranking stands as the highest in program history. Previously, the Captains were listed third on three separate occasions. Christopher Newport was originally ranked third on November 5, 2013 before regaining that spot 10 years later on October 31 and November 7, 2023.

CNU earned the ranking after improving to 6-0 with three shutouts last week. During a five-day span, the squad blanked Virginia Wesleyan, 7-0, at home before silencing Ohio Wesleyan, 6-0, and Denison, 3-0, on the road. Along with a 1-0 shutout against Washington and Lee last Sunday, the Captains have quieted four straight opponents, equaling the second-longest streak in program history.

Five of Christopher Newport's upcoming foes also earned a spot in the latest poll. The Captains will travel to No. 16 Stevens on September 28 before heading to No. 14 York (Pa.) on October 4. Later in the year, the team will host No. 4 Salisbury on October 8, trek to No. 5 Williams on October 12, and welcome No. 12 Rowan to town on October 25.

Additionally, the team already holds a victory over Johns Hopkins, who jumped up three spots to secure the No. 2 position in the most recent rankings.

CNU will return to action on Saturday at 1 p.m. when the squad squares off with Messiah in a neutral-site contest at Mary Washington's Battleground Turf Field.

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