COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- One week after taking over the top spot in the NFHCA National Coaches Poll, the Christopher Newport field hockey team became the unanimous No. 1 squad in the nation after earning all 19 first-place votes in the latest rankings, which were released by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association on Tuesday morning.
In the poll, the Captains were listed first on every ballot, becoming the first unanimous No. 1 team in the country this year. After opening the season slotted fourth in the nation, Christopher Newport climbed to the top of the rankings last week after earning five first-place votes. One week later, the program received the top spot on all 19 ballots.
Last year, CNU spent six weeks as the unanimous No. 1 team in the country before accomplishing the feat again on Tuesday. Since 2016, only two other programs have received every first-place vote in the NFHCA poll. Prior to Christopher Newport, Middlebury was the last to accomplish the feat after spending two weeks as the undisputed top team in two polls early in the 2025 campaign. Additionally, Messiah accomplished the feat on October 17, 2017.
In the most recent rankings, Salisbury and Tufts were tied for second in the poll, while Johns Hopkins and Williams rounded out the top-five.
Among past opponents, Christopher Newport has already defeated No. 6 Babson, No. 16 Endicott, and No. 18 Washington and Lee this season. Meanwhile, four of the squad's upcoming foes earned a spot in the latest top-25.
On Saturday, CNU will host No. 11 Messiah at Jennings Family Stadium beginning at 1 p.m. Then, on September 27, the team will head to Cambridge, Massachusetts for a neutral-site tilt against No. 8 Middlebury.
Later in the fall, the Captains will also renew their rivalries against a pair of former conference opponents. Christopher Newport will travel to No. 2 Salisbury on October 17 before welcoming No. 21 Mary Washington to town on October 28.
So far this year, CNU currently boasts a 4-0 record, including a 3-0 ledger on the road. The Captains are one of only 18 undefeated teams remaining in the nation.
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