NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- After opening the season with a shutout against Methodist on Tuesday evening, the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team will host two more games this weekend to round out a busy opening week. The Captains (1-0-0) will welcome Hardin-Simmons University on Friday night for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff before also entertaining Chapman University on Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m.
It will be the first matchup ever for Christopher Newport against either the Cowgirls from Texas or the Panthers from California. Live stats and a live video webcast will available online for both games.
CNU opened the season with an exceptional defensive showing against Methodist by allowing just two shots in the shutout victory. Starting in goal, senior
Amy Sidaway recorded her program-record 34th shutout and leads all active NCAA goalkeepers at all three levels with a .576 career shutout percentage. Sidaway now sits just outside the all-time goalkeeping chart for shutouts in Division III history and will join the top-30 with two more clean sheets.
Playing in front of the talented netminder is a back line that includes returning starters
Bella DiTommaso,
Addy Hennessy, and
Malayah Warner alongside sophomore
Nora Cook. Cook, DiTommaso, and Warner each logged full time against the Monarchs and helped hold the visitors to just two total attempts in the game.
Offensively, rookie
Catie Borsuk provided all the fireworks in the game with a beautiful corner kick goal in the 73rd minute of action. The freshman notched her first career goal with the direct shot in from the left corner. CNU took 29 shots in the game with all but one starting field player logging at least one shot in the game. The group was led by
Avery Spell with three shots, including two on target, and
Lexi Hazelgrove, with three attempts with one on frame.
Hardin-Simmons comes into the season opener against the Captains after an impressive 11-4-2 season in 2025 that included winning the American Southwest Conference (ASC) championship. Heading into the third season under head coach Rusty Oglesby, the Cowgirls have won 28 games and back-to-back conference crowns. Leading the way this season is returning All-Region star Tatum Barnett after leading the team in scoring as a freshman last year with eight goals.
On Sunday, the Captains will take on Chapman University after the Panthers open the season at Batten University on Friday night. The Panthers return a pair of All-Conference stars in Sidney Karjian and Athena Tsakiris. Last season, Chapman posted an 8-7-4 overall record.
Following the three-game opening week, the Captains will stay at home for two more games the following weekend. Christopher Newport faces Washington and Lee on Saturday, September 12 and Stockton on Sunday, September 13 with both kickoffs slated for Noon.
