COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- In the final NFHCA National Coaches Poll released before the start of the NCAA Tournament, the Christopher Newport field hockey team held firm at No. 3 in the latest rankings, which were announced by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association on Tuesday morning.

The Captains have been slotted third in the last five polls since October 6. In the most recent rankings, CNU picked up 436 points, which placed the squad just behind Tufts and Middlebury.

Overall, Christopher Newport was listed in the top-five in all 11 polls released during the regular season. The Captains opened the year at No. 4 in the country before spending three weeks at the top of the rankings. Then, after a one-week stint in the No. 2 position, CNU has held steady in third since the beginning of October.

Christopher Newport and Tufts are the only two teams in the nation to hold down a top-five spot in all 11 releases.

Following the top-three squads, Bowdoin remained fourth in the most recent rankings, while Salisbury jumped to fifth.

During the regular season, CNU squared off against six teams that earned a spot in the latest poll. The Captains knocked off No. 5 Salisbury, No. 16 Babson, No. 19 Washington and Lee, No. 22 Messiah, and No. 23 Endicott. The squad also dropped a hard-fought 1-0 overtime decision to No. 2 Middlebury on September 27.

Tuesday's poll was the 173rd time that Christopher Newport was slotted in the top-25 of the NFHCA National Coaches Poll. Incredibly, the program has been listed in 46 consecutive rankings dating back to October 25, 2022. Putting that into perspective, this year's senior class has never spent a single day outside of the top-25 and has been in the top-10 every week since September 19, 2023.

After earning a first-round bye in the NCAA Tournament, CNU will continue the fall campaign on Saturday at 11 a.m. The Captains will host the winner of an opening round bout between Stevens and No. 13 Ursinus at Jennings Family Stadium.

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