Live Stats // Video Stream
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- After opening the year with three straight road victories, the top-ranked Christopher Newport field hockey team will kick off its home slate on Saturday at 11 a.m. when the Captains host New Paltz in a non-conference tilt at Jennings Family Stadium.
Entering the weekend, CNU sits at 3-0 on the season, while New Paltz is 1-1.
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.
Christopher Newport climbed to the top of the NFHCA National Coaches Poll on Tuesday after kicking off the year with a remarkable run during the opening week of the 2026 campaign. Over the first seven days of the season, the Captains knocked off three straight nationally-ranked opponents, which marked the first time in program history CNU defeated three consecutive top-25 foes.
The Captains began the year with a 2-0 win at No. 23 Washington and Lee before adding a pair of victories against top-10 teams during a march through Massachusetts over Labor Day weekend. CNU defeated No. 3 Babson, 6-1, on Saturday before upending No. 10 Endicott, 3-1, on Monday.
During the three games, Christopher Newport flashed a well-rounded attack as 11 different players recorded at least one point. Leading the way,
Caroline Hughlett posted eight total points during that stretch, including two goals and a pair of assists in the triumph over Babson. Her six-point eruption against the Beavers equaled the highest output against a nationally-ranked opponent in school history.
Two days later, Hughlett rounded out her week with a goal against Endicott, becoming just the third player in program history to score against back-to-back top-10 opponents. In that club, she joined former legends Mauri Ware and Jackie Kotoriy.
Along with Hughlett's efforts,
Riley Iasiello,
Lindsey Loar, and
Ellie Nuckols all collected three points, including a game-winning goal, during that stretch. Additionally,
Courtney Hughlett and
Calli Martin both have a goal and an assist this year as well.
On the other side of the field, CNU has surrendered just 14 total shots during its first three games. On the back end,
Ella Fallen has registered six saves while boasting a remarkable 0.34 goals-against-average during her first three career starts. Meanwhile,
Avery Mast has blocked a shot in each of her last two appearances, while
Caroline Hughlett and
Gigi Stephan turned away rips against Washington and Lee in the opener.
New Paltz will make the trip to Newport News after splitting a pair of games during the first week of the season. The Hawks took down Marywood, 1-0, in their home opener on September 1 before dropping a hard-fought 3-2 decision at No. 10 Endicott on Saturday. New Paltz held a 2-1 lead against the nationally-ranked Gulls before surrendering a penalty-stroke goal in the 30th minute and the game-winner in the 56th.
Competing in the vaunted New Jersey Athletic Conference for the first time in program history, New Paltz was picked fifth in the league's preseason poll after posting a 10-9 record, including a 4-1 conference mark, in the SUNYAC last fall. The Hawks are led by junior Sophia Bronzi, who was named to the NFHCA National Collegiate Watchlist after garnering second-team All-League nods in 2025.
So far this season, five different Hawks have recorded a point, including freshman Abigail Bozzanca, who scored the game-winner against Marywood in her collegiate debut. Meanwhile, in the cage, Grace Grant has a 1.50 goals-against-average and .857 save percentage.
CNU and New Paltz have previously met twice with the Captains winning both battles, including a tight 1-0 triumph last year. During that contest,
Caroline Hughlett converted a penalty stroke in the 42nd minute to give the victors all the offense they would need.
After Saturday's showdown, Christopher Newport will remain at home for a 1 p.m. match-up with No. 9 Messiah on September 19.
---ISH---
