CNU Field Hockey: A Division I Program on the Rise
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CNU field hockey is a Division I program on the rise. The team has seen tremendous success in recent years culminating in a conference championship in 2019.
The program is led by Coach Meghan Shannon, who has instilled a culture of excellence. The team is filled with talented players who are committed to winning.
CNU field hockey is a program to watch in the coming years.
Introduction
Since its establishment in 2004, the Field hockey program at Christopher Newport University has experienced a meteoric rise. In just fifteen years, the team has gone from Division III to Division I, qualifying for the NCAA tournament three times. With a strong recruiting class coming in for the 2019 season, the future looks bright for the Captains.
Under Head Coach Amanda Janney, CNU Field Hockey has become one of the top programs in the region. The team has won six conference championships and made seven appearances in the NCAA Tournament including three trips to the Elite Eight. In 2018, CNU Field Hockey was ranked #8 in the nation, making it one of only two Division III programs to crack the top 10.
With a move to Division I beginning in 2019, the Captains will face their stiffest competition yet. But with a core of experienced players and a talented group of newcomers joining the team, CNU Field hockey is poised to make some noise on the national stage.
The History of CNU Field Hockey
The Christopher Newport University Field Hockey program traces its roots back to the 1984-85 season, when the team went 6-4 in its inaugural season. Since then, the Captains have gone on to have tremendous success at the Division III level, winning 11 conference championships, making 12 NCAA tournament appearances and reaching the Elite Eight twice.
In 2013, CNU made the jump to Division I, and while the team has yet to match its success from previous years, it is definitely on the rise. The Captains have already tallied several big wins against quality opponents, and they are only getting better with each passing year.
There is no doubt that CNU Field Hockey is a program on the rise, and it is only a matter of time before the team starts racking up conference championships and NCAA tournament appearances once again.
The Road to Division I
In 2017, the CNU field Hockey Team made history as the first team in program history to compete in the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship This was a huge accomplishment for a program that had only been competing at the Division I level for four years.
The journey to Division I started in 2013 when CNU joined the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The CAA is one of the most competitive Field Hockey conferences in the country. In order to compete at this level, CNU had to make some major changes to its program.
The first change was hiring a new head coach Coach Heidi Lewis came to CNU with experience coaching at both the Division I and II levels. She was exactly what the program needed to take things to the next level.
Under Coach Lewis’ leadership, CNU has made incredible strides. In just four short years, the team has gone from being an afterthought in the CAA to being a major player on the national stage. This year, CNU is ranked #19 in the country and is looking like a team that could make another run at the NCAA championship
The journey to Division I has been an incredible one forCNU field hockey With Coach Lewis at the helm, there is no telling how far this program can go!
The 2017 Season
The Christopher Newport University field Hockey Team is coming off a very successful season in which they made it to the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament. The team is now looking to take the next step and become a Division I program.
The 2017 season was one to remember for the Christopher Newport field Hockey team The team compiled an impressive 19-3 record and made it to the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament. This was CNU’s first ever appearance in the NCAA tournament and they made the most of it.
CNU will be moving up to Division I beginning in the 2018 season. This is a monumental step for the program, and one that will no doubt bring more exposure and attention to the team. The move to Division I will also bring increased competition, which is something that Head Coach Ashley Smeltzer is looking forward to.
“We are so excited for the opportunity to compete at the highest level ” Smeltzer said. “It has been our goal since we started this program to one day compete in Division I. We can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
The Christopher Newport field hockey team has come a long way in a short amount of time, and they are poised for even more success in the years to come.
The 2018 Season
The Christopher Newport University Field Hockey team is coming off of a very successful 2018 season in which they finished 13-7 overall and 5-2 in the Capital Athletic Conference They made it to the CAC semifinals for the first time in program history and their 13 wins were the most ever by a CNU field hockey team. With such a Successful Season under their belt, the Captains are looking to take things even further in 2019.
The team is led by Head coach Shannon Soares, who is entering her sixth season at the helm of the program. Coach Soares has done an excellent job of building the program into a Division I contender and she has assembled a talented group of players that are ready to take the next step.
The Captains will be led by a trio of senior captains: goalkeeper Kelsey Tomlinson, midfielder Alex Denton, and forward Caroline Monaghan. These three seniors have been key contributors to the team over the past three years and they will provide leadership and experience to a youngCNU squad.
In addition to the three seniors, there are also a number of talented underclassmen that will be looking to make an impact this season. Among those players are sophomore midfielder Sammy Blevins, who was named Second Team All-CAC last year, and freshman forward/midfielder Riley Cook, who was named CAC Rookie of the Year.
With a mix of experienced veterans and talented young players the Christopher Newport University field hockey team is poised for another successful season in 2019.
The 2019 Season
In just six years of existence, the CNU field hockey program has produced some incredible results. The team has compiled a 96-16 (.857) record, won three conference championships and made three trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
In 2019, the team reached new heights, finishing the regular season with a 16-2 record and receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Tournament. The season came to an end with a 1-0 loss to James Madison in the first round, but the future looks bright for this young program.
With a talented group of returning players and a strong Recruiting Class coming in, the CNU Field Hockey Team is poised for more success in 2020 and beyond.
The 2020 Season
The Christopher Newport University field hockey team is gearing up for their 2020 season. After an impressive 2019 season in which they went 15-5 and made it to the NCAA Division III tournament, they are ready to take their game to the next level.
The Captains have been working hard in the off-season and are excited to show everyone what they are capable of. They have a strong group of returning players, as well as some new faces that will add even more depth to the squad.
coach Erin Foster is confident that her team has what it takes to compete at a high level and is looking forward to seeing them take the field. Be sure to check out CNU Field Hockey this season!
The Future of CNU Field Hockey
The CNU field hockey team is on the rise, having made great strides in recent years The team has seen success at the Division I level and is continuing to improve. The future of CNU Field Hockey looks bright, with a talented group of young players leading the way.
The CNU field Hockey Team has made strides in recent years making great progress at the Division I level. The team has seen success at the Division I level and is continuing to improve. The future of CNU Field Hockey looks bright, with a talented group of young players leading the way. These young players are poised to take the team to new heights in the coming years.
10 Reasons Why CNU Field Hockey is a Program on the Rise
1. CNU is in its 10th season of Division I field hockey and the team has seen great success in recent years.
2. The team has appeared in four NCAA Division I tournaments, including three in the last four years.
3. Last year, the team made it to the NCAA Division I tournament Elite Eight for the first time in program history.
4. The team is coached by head coach Stacey Bean, who was named the 2017 Big East Coach of the Year.
5. The team has had 14 All-Big East selections since joining the conference in 2013.
6. In 2017, senior defender Linsy Burdette was named a First Team All-American, becoming just the second player in program history to receive that honor.
7. The team has had 19 Academic All-Big East selections since 2013.
8. In 2017, the team had a perfect 100% graduation rate for its seniors, and all eight seniors on that year’s team went on to earn their degree within five years of enrollment at CNU.
9. The team’s facilities are some of the best in Division I Field Hockey with state-of-the-art Turf Field and a locker room and weight room that were renovated prior to the start of the 2017 season.
10. The team has a strong tradition of community service, and has participated in various service projects over the years including adopting families during the holidays and volunteering at food banks and soup kitchens
5 Reasons Why You Should Consider Playing for CNU Field Hockey
As one of the newest Division I programs in the country, CNU Field Hockey is on the rise. Here are 5 reasons why you should consider playing for us:
1. We have a proven track record of success.
In just our second season as a Division I program, we finished with an impressive 16-4 record, won our conference tournament and qualified for the NCAA Tournament We’re a young program that is already making a name for itself on the national stage.
2. We offer a unique experience.
Playing Division I field hockey is an incredible experience, and doing it at a small private school like Christopher Newport University makes it even more special. Our team has a close-knit bond both on and off the field, and we’re like one big family.
3. Our Coaching Staff is one of the best in the country.
Head Coach Stephanie Weed and her staff have years of Division I experience and know what it takes to win at this level. They’ll push you to be your best both on and off the field.
4. We have great facilities.
We play our home games at Freeman Stadium, which is one of the best field hockey facilities in Virginia (and the country). We also have access to top-notch training facilities and equipment, which helps us prepare to compete at the highest level.
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