Live Stats // Video Stream
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The sixth-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team will kick off a brief two-game homestand on Sunday at noon when the Captains host Washington and Lee in a non-conference showdown at Jennings Family Stadium.
Entering the contest, CNU sits at 2-0 on the season, including 1-0 at home. Meanwhile, Washington and Lee is 1-1 overall and 0-1 on the road.
For those fans unable to attend the game, live stats and a video stream of the action will be available at CNUsports.com. Direct links to both features can be found at the top of this release and on the schedule page.
The Captains kicked off the 2025 campaign with a pair of high-scoring victories last week. In the opener on Friday, Christopher Newport knocked off Bridgerwater, 6-0, before taking down No. 5 Johns Hopkins, 5-3, during a neutral-site tilt in Fredericksburg on Sunday. With those efforts, the 2025 squad became the first team since 2015 to notch at least five goals in each of its first two outings.
Overall, only five CNU teams have opened a season with back-to-back five-goal eruptions. Along with the most recent examples, that exclusive club includes the 2013 Captains, who advanced to the Final Four, and the 2009 and 2010 teams, which earned a pair of NCAA Tournament bids.
Headlining the offensive assault,
Courtney Hughlett posted a pair of strikes in both games, joining CNU Hall of Famer Wendy Wilson (2001) and former standout Taylor Young (2013) as the only Captains to kick off a year with two straight multi-goal efforts. On Sunday, she also became just the fourth player to notch a pair of goals against a top-five opponent, joining current assistant coach
Marlene Lichty and longtime legends Mauri Ware and Bailey Miller.
In addition to Hughlett,
Lindsey Loar posted a goal in each of her two appearances this year, while
Avery Mast had an assist in both contests. The reigning Virginia State Rookie of the Year also sank the final goal during the win over Johns Hopkins on Sunday, while
Gigi Stephan contributed three points, including the clinching blow, against the Blue Jays.
Flashing a well-balanced attack, Christopher Newport featured several other standouts during the opener against Bridgewater. In the win over the Eagles, freshman
Emma Weber became just the seventh Captain to score twice in her collegiate debut, while
Caroline Hughlett handed out four assists, which equaled the second-highest total in school history.
Remarkably, through only two games, 10 different players have already registered at least one point for CNU. The team has been especially effective on penalty corners as the Captains have converted eight of their 28 opportunities into goals.
On the defensive side,
Lily Kerr made five saves against Johns Hopkins. Aided by that performance, she joined former standout Olivia Davis as the only goalies in school history with multiple wins against top-five foes. Previously, Kerr knocked off No. 5 Salisbury, 3-1, on October 18, 2023.
Entering the weekend on a high note, Washington and Lee moved to .500 on the season after beating Denison, 2-1, on Friday. Against the Big Red, the Generals held a 29-3 advantage in shots and a 9-0 lead in corners. Although Denison struck first, Sydney Baggett and Betty Boatwright responded with a pair of third-quarter goals to secure the win.
Washington and Lee entered the fall with high expectations after slotting third in the ODAC Preseason Coaches Poll while earning a first-place vote in the initial league rankings. Coming off a 12-7 campaign last year, the Generals welcomed back three veterans that earned a spot on the NFHCA National Preseason Watchlist. Headlining the decorated contingent, Baggett posted 13 goals and 32 assists last year, while Boatwright landed 11 strikes and Zoe Dolfis added four helpers.
In 19 previous meetings between the Captains and Generals, CNU holds a 15-4 edge in the series. Last year, Christopher Newport posted a 1-0 victory as
Courtney Hughlett and
Riley Iasiello teamed up on the game's lone goal in the second minute of action, while Kerr completed the shutout with four saves.
After this weekend, the Captains will return to action on September 7 when the team hosts Virginia Wesleyan at 7 p.m.
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