KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- On September 22, 2015, the Christopher Newport men's soccer team checked into the top five of the United Soccer Coaches Division III Top 25 poll. Exactly a decade and one week later, on September 29, 2025, the Captains have surged back into the nation's elite as they are ranked No. 5 in the most recent Division III coaches poll.
Carrying a nine-game unbeaten streak into this week's action, the Captains (7-0-2) will travel across the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel on Wednesday evening to face Virginia Wesleyan University (6-1-1), who vaulted to No. 20 in this week's coaches poll. Kickoff against the Marlins is set for 7:00 p.m. from Foster Field at the Tassos Paphites Soccer Complex.
The top-20 showdown will treat fans to the newest chapter in the longest rivalry in CNU men's soccer history. The Captains and Marlins have faced off 44 times prior to Wednesday night with Virginia Wesleyan holding a 24-17-3 advantage in the all-time series. In recent history, the Captains have had the edge, winning six straight and posting a 10-1-1 record since 2008.
Live stats will be available free online with a live video webcast also featured on FloCollege for a fee. Links to both can be found on the men's soccer schedule on CNUsports.com.
CNU has now won seven straight matchups this season, including a 3-2 win over Trinity (Texas), who is now ranked No. 6 behind the Captains in the top ten. The poll is led by No. 1 Denison and No. 2 Emory followed by Augsburg and Williams ahead of Christopher Newport. Virginia Wesleyan was unranked before this week, but a three-game win streak sees the Marlins jump into the top 20.
The Captains have featured a balanced offensive attack this season that includes 11 different goal scorers and 14 total players with at least one point. At the top is junior
Drew McWhinney with three goals and six points while defender
Carson Friedlein also has six points on two goals and two assists.
Virginia Wesleyan has scored at least one goal in all eight of their games to this point in the season. Zach Bittler has been at the forefront of the dynamic offense with 15 points on six goals and three assists. Ryan McAdams and JaMarhe Wills have also started all eight games and are chipping in 13 points on six goals and one assist, combined. The Marlins have also pitched four shutouts with two goalkeepers splitting time so far. Seth Brown has yet to surrender a goal in over 262 minutes in three starts while Ben Haynes has allowed five goals for a 0.98 GAA in five starts.
Following the matchup, the Captains will stay out on the road to face Mary Washington on Saturday, October 4 at 1:00 p.m.
National - Poll 4 - September 30, 2025
| Rank |
School |
Prev |
W-L-T |
| 1 |
Denison University |
1 |
8-0-1 |
| 2 |
Emory University |
2 |
10-0-0 |
| 3 |
Augsburg University |
3 |
10-0-0 |
| 4 |
Williams College |
4 |
5-0-3 |
| 5 |
Christopher Newport University |
10 |
7-0-2 |
| 6 |
Trinity University (Texas) |
5 |
7-1-0 |
| 7 |
Wheaton College (Mass.) |
9 |
7-0-2 |
| 8 |
Dickinson College |
8 |
7-0-3 |
| 9 |
SUNY Cortland |
11 |
6-1-2 |
| 10 |
Rowan University |
6 |
7-2-1 |
| 11 |
Washington University (Mo.) |
12 |
7-1-0 |
| 12 |
Brandeis University |
18 |
7-0-2 |
| 13 |
Bates College |
NR |
5-1-1 |
| 14 |
Southwestern University |
15 |
8-0-2 |
| 15 |
University of Scranton |
20 |
5-0-3 |
| 16 |
St. Olaf College |
19 |
8-1-2 |
| 17 |
Calvin University |
23 |
7-1-0 |
| 18 |
Tufts University |
22 |
5-1-2 |
| 19 |
Ithaca College |
21 |
6-0-2 |
| 20 |
Virginia Wesleyan University |
NR |
6-1-1 |
| 21 |
Amherst College |
13 |
5-1-3 |
| 22 |
University of Lynchburg |
NR |
6-0-2 |
| 23 |
Hampden-Sydney College |
RV |
7-1-0 |
| 24 |
Gustavus Adolphus College |
RV |
7-2-0 |
| 25 |
Hobart College |
25 |
7-0-2 |
Records shown are through games of September 28, 2025
Also receiving votes: Ohio Northern University, Lebanon Valley College, University of Chicago, Montclair State University, Kenyon College, Middlebury College, Roger Williams University, Colorado College, Babson College, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
