NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- In a primetime mid-week matchup at Captains Field, the Christopher Newport men's soccer team will host Batten University at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday night. The Captains (4-1-1) welcome the Marlins (1-2-5) on Newport News Parks and Rec Night as Christopher Newport will celebrate the youth soccer community with a free soccer ball giveaway to the first 150 kids in attendance. 

Admission to the game is free of charge. For fans unable to attend in person, live statistics and a live video webcast will be available online at CNUsports.com. Links can be found on the men's soccer schedule. 

Parking is available in Lot E4 and Lot 11. Campus map is available at cnu.edu/parking -- fans are encouraged to come early to be a part of the game! Newport News Parks & Rec athletes will take part in the starting lineup presentation as well as serve as ball kids during the game. Following the action, CNU students and coaches will be available for autographs.

Christopher Newport is coming off its first loss of the season as their record has moved to 4-1-1 on the season. The Captains have featured one of the most dominant scoring offenses in the country this season with 2.83 goals per game and an attack that is averaging just under 19 shots per game. 

The matchup is one of the longest standing head-to-head rivalries in CNU athletics history as Christopher Newport and Batten, formerly Virginia Wesleyan University, have squared off 45 times prior to Wednesday night. CNU is 17-25-3 all-time against the cross-water rivals but have taken control of the series over the last seven matchups, going 6-1-0 since 2014. 

Offensively, the Captains have been dangerous because they have been balanced. Ten different CNU players have logged at least one goal in the first seven games and 13 players have at least one point. Riley Usher leads the attack with 11 points (5g, 1a) while Michael Hackworth, Evan Rupe, Yazan Yaghmmour, and Drew McWhinney have each logged multiple goals so far. 

Batten has been led by Mason Wakefield with three goals while David Nalls has added two goals for the Marlins. Adrian Najarro has played all 720 minutes in goal and has a 1.25 goals-against average with two shutouts. 

Following the Wednesday night tilt, the Captains will stay at home for a Saturday night bout against Marymount on Homecoming Weekend. CNU will face the Saints at 6:00 p.m. on October 3.