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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- With excitement mounting for the 2026 campaign, the Christopher Newport men's lacrosse team will make its season debut a day earlier than expected as the Captains will host Elizabethtown on Friday at noon in order to avoid an approaching winter storm, which is scheduled to make an appearance in Hampton Roads over the weekend.

For those fans unable to attend the contest, CNU will provide a live broadcast of the game with Andy McGregor and Jackson Deal calling all of the action. Live stats will also 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 enter the season with high expectations. Earlier on Thursday, the squad was ranked third in the Inside Lacrosse National Preseason Poll, trailing only Tufts and Salisbury. Previously, the squad was slotted second in the initial rankings released by USA Lacrosse Magazine last week.

Christopher Newport is coming off a 2025 campaign during which the team compiled an 18-4 record while advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the fifth straight year. Along the way, the Captains knocked off five nationally-ranked opponents and compiled a 12-1 record at home. 

The program welcomes back an impressive contingent of returning standouts. Of the 15 players who appeared in all 22 games last spring, 12 are back on the roster. Meanwhile, 24 Captains saw action in the Elite Eight against Bowdoin in 2025. All but three of those stars will suit up for the squad on Friday.

Among the returning headliners, Christopher Newport features seven Preseason All-Americans. Senior Mason Bellinger was hailed as the USA Lacrosse Magazine National Preseason Goalie of the Year, while Mark Davison and Kevin Miller joined him on the first-team squad. Meanwhile, Jamie Smith was a second-team Preseason All-American, and Colin DeGrassi, Rory Keverline, and Daniel Siaton secured honorable mention nods.

In addition to Bellinger, Davison, DeGrassi, Miller, and Smith, sophomore midfielder Jackson Platner also garnered All-American plaudits for his work last spring. Overall, CNU returns its entire starting midfield and defense along with Miller and Smith on the attack and Bellinger in the cage. Meanwhile, long-pole midfielders Ryan Almassian and AJ Rosacker are both entering their senior campaigns having appeared in over 50 games during the past three seasons.

Providing the first test for the Captains this year, Elizabethtown is coming off a 2025 season in which the Blue Jays produced an 11-7 record while advancing to the Landmark Conference Championship. The squad returns three reigning All-League performers, including Tristan Coleman, who led the team with 41 goals and 41 assists last spring. He was one of only 14 players in the entire NCAA to finish the 2025 campaign with at least 40 goals and 40 helpers.

Along with Coleman, Reese Levinson and Peter Pitrelli also garnered All-Conference citations last year. Levinson recorded 31 points from his perch on the midfield unit, while Pitrelli nabbed 39 ground balls and forced seven turnovers as a short-stick specialist.

Overall, Elizabethtown returns seven players who saw action in all 18 games last year, including faceoff specialist Logan Rolles. The rising sophomore won 54 percent of his 158 attempts last spring while collecting 46 ground balls and a pair of points.

Friday's contest will mark the third meeting between CNU and Elizabethtown. The Captains have won the previous two battles, including a 10-6 triumph in the last showdown on March 8, 2019 in Pennsylvania. Although none of the players are back from that contest, current assistant coach Campbell Pozin had two takeaways in that game, while broadcaster Jackson Deal added an assist for the victors.

After the battle with the Blue Jays, Christopher Newport will return to action on February 7 with a noon trip to Hampden-Sydney.

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