NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The No. 8 Salisbury University Sea Gulls saw their season end in a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to top-ranked Christopher Newport University in the NCAA quarterfinal round of the field hockey tournament on Sunday. The game, played at CNU‘s Captains Field, marked the fourth consecutive Sea Gull-Captain matchup decided by a single goal.
Salisbury concludes its 2025 campaign with a 19-3 overall record,having secured the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) championship and reaching the NCAA Elite Eight for the third year in a row. all three of the Sea Gulls’ losses this season were decided by one goal in the fourth quarter or later, underscoring the team’s competitive schedule and resilience. This defeat ends a run of strong postseason play for Salisbury, which had twice defeated CNU by one goal in 2024 and 2025, including a penalty-stroke victory to clinch their own Final four berth earlier this year.
The decisive goal came with just under four minutes remaining in regulation, giving CNU the narrow advantage. Salisbury finished the game with a 6-1 edge in corner margin but was unable to capitalize.
Salisbury University competes in NCAA Division III, with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference and affiliate memberships in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (football, men’s & women’s swimming), Coastal Lacrosse Conference (men’s lacrosse), SUNYAC (field hockey), and Colonial Women’s Golf Conference (women’s golf). The Sea Gulls boast a tradition of athletic excellence, having won 23 team national championships, 24 individual national championships, and 206 conference championships, while also producing 53 Academic all-Americans. More information can be found at SUSeaGulls.com or by following @SUSeaGulls on social media.
