MONTCLAIR, N.J. -- After starting the year with six straight games at home the Christopher Newport men's soccer team will hit the road for the first time this weekend as the Captains (4-0-1) are headed to Montclair State University (6-2-0) for a Saturday evening tilt. Kickoff against the Red Hawks is set for 5:00 p.m. at MSU Soccer Park. 

Live stats and a live video webcast will be available for the action courtesy of Montclair State Athletics. Links to both can be found on the men's soccer schedule at CNUsports.com. 

The Captains are coming off a 1-1 draw against North Carolina Wesleyan that extended the team's five-game unbeaten streak to start the season. CNU has faced Montclair State twice in program history with both matchups coming in the NCAA Tournament; the Captains won the first ever pairing in 2016, 5-1, before the Red Hawks captured a 3-1 overtime win in the 2023 postseason tournament. Saturday's bout will be the first ever regular season matchup between the two teams. 

CNU has been off to a torrid start offensively, ranking seventh in Division III scoring offense with 3.40 goals per game. The Captains are averaging over 20 shots per game, ranking 10th in the country, and featured a +15 goal differential that ranks in the top-25 nationally. 

Leading the attack so far has been senior Riley Usher with five goals and one assist for 11 points. Fellow senior Michael Hackworth is second on the team with seven points on two goals and three assists. Ten different CNU players have found the back of the net so far this season including a hot start for senior Evan Rupe with three total goals. 

Defensively, the Captains have only surrendered two goals through the first six games for a 0.35 goals-against average. CNU ranks in the top-15 nationally in goals-against average while leaning on senior goalkeeper Matt Yates with starts in all six games. Yates has a 0.41 GAA and .895 save percentage with one solo shutout and three combined clean sheets. 

Montclair State has won three in a row with victories against Berry (2-1), Swarthmore (3-1), and Western Connecticut State (3-0). The Red Hawks ranks fifth nationally in goal differential with a +21 mark through the first eight games while also boasting one of the top offensive units in the country with 3.25 goals scored per game. Tomas Monteiro is pacing the attack with seven goals and three assists for 17 total points already this season. 

The trip away from Captains Field is only temporary, as Christopher Newport will return to the home field for three of the next four games after Saturday. CNU will take on Batten University on Wednesday, September 30 at 7:00 p.m.