RICHMOND, Va. -- Three Christopher Newport men's soccer players were recognized as All-State honorees on Wednesday as announced by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID). Both Barry Jones and Carson Friedlein earned first team All-State recognition while Asher Kuzemka rounded out his tenure as a second team All-State pick. 

The three overall selections matches the most in a year for the Captains since 2017 and it is also the first time in as many years that multiple CNU players earned first team All-State certificates. 

In 2025, sophomore Carson Friedlein hauled in second team All-Region honors while leading one of the nation's top defenses. He and the rest of the CNU defense held opponents to a 0.75 goals-against average, ranking 29th in Division III, and posted an .817 save percentage, ranking 34th nationally. A first team All-Conference selection, Friedlein started 20 games and played in all 21 on the back line for the Captains. While anchoring the defense at center back, Friedlein helped CNU register a top-ten single season defensively with the eighth-best GAA in program history. 

He also made an impact on the offensive end, scoring 10 points on four goals and two assists. Friedlein led the Captains with three game-winning goals including the clinching tally against nationally-ranked Trinity (Texas) on September 19. Over the course of the season, he took 11 shots and put seven on target for a .636 shots-on-goal percentage. 

In the midfield, Barry Jones picked up his second career All-Region certificate after also earning third team honors in 2023. Despite an injury that limited him to just 15 game splayed and 12 starts, Jones still helped lead the way offensively and was named a third team All-Region pick. He scored three goals, including the first goal of the year against the United States Merchant Marine Academy and the game-winning goal against Salisbury on October 18. In total, he took 15 shots this season with nine on frame and went on to earn first team All-Conference honors. 

Also playing in the midfield and earning fourth team All-Region honors was Asher Kuzemka, who rounded out the All-State picks in 2025. He helped organize the Captains offensively through the middle of the pitch and chipped in offensively with two goals and two assists for six points. He was the catalyst for countless opportunities moving forward for Christopher Newport while he was charged with challenging the opponent's top attacking players on the defensive side. Kuzemka was a second team All-Conference pick in 2025. 

The Captains concluded the 2025 season with a 13-3-5 overall record and captured the C2C Championship. CNU returned to the NCAA Tournament fr the fifth time in six seasons and advanced to the second round of the championship. 

 

Individual Award Winners
Coach of the Year:	Chris Yeager	Lynchburg
Player of the Year:	Trey Widrick	Bridgewater
Defensive Player of the Year:	Benjamin Velasquez	Lynchburg
Rookie of the Year:	Moises Argueta-Garcia	Mary Washington
First Team
Forward:	Trey Widrick	Bridgewater
Forward:	Sammy Amorose	Mary Washington
Forward:	Zach Bittler	Virginia Wesleyan
Forward:	Jefferson Lopez Coreas	Marymount
Midfield:	Keaton Napior	Lynchburg
Midfield:	Will Hall	Washington and Lee
Midfield:	Matthew Jenkins	Washington and Lee
Midfield:	Barry Jones	Christopher Newport
Defense:	Benjamin Velasquez	Lynchburg
Defense:	William Casey	Lynchburg
Defense:	Spencer Furman	Washington and Lee
Defense:	Carson Friedlein	Christopher Newport
Goalkeeper:	Thomas Viscuso	Lynchburg
Second Team
Forward:	Riley Queen	Bridgewater
Forward:	Evan Pask	Lynchburg
Forward:	Erick Shoetter-Rojas	Marymount
Forward:	Walker Stebbings	Hampden-Sydney
Midfield:	Victor Ovalle-Mares	Hampden-Sydney
Midfield:	Asher Kuzemka	Christopher Newport
Midfield:	Moises Argueta-Garcia	Mary Washington
Midfield:	Merlin Torres	Marymount
Defense:	Tyler Petz	Hampden-Sydney
Defense:	Aaron Deans	Virginia Wesleyan
Defense:	Josh Nevins	Virginia Wesleyan
Defense:	Mauricio Jimenez	Hampden-Sydney
Goalkeeper:	Tristan Kickbush	Mary Washington