KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- After leading the Christopher Newport women's soccer team through another undefeated year in 2022, head coach Jamie Gunderson and his staff have been named the United Soccer Coaches Region VI Coaching Staff of the Year for the second straight year. The nationally-ranked Captains advanced to the NCAA National Quarterfinals and finished the year with a 19-0-3 overall record. 

Gunderson is joined by assistant coaches Sean Killion and Brian Lybert in the honor as the group have combined to post an unprecedented 41-0-4 record through the first two seasons as a unit.

The Captains continue to set new standards for success under Gunderson and that has been underscored primarily by the run of consecutive games without a loss since the start of his career. After two seasons of holding the position of head coach at Christopher Newport University, Gunderson has shattered the NCAA All-Divisions record for an unbeaten streak to start his career with 45 straight games. He is the first coach of any team, men's or women's, at any level of NCAA soccer to open his or her coaching career with as many consecutive games without a loss. 

The streak, which will carry over into the 2023 season, ranks tied for the fifth longest all-time in Division III and tied for 12th longest run in NCAA women's soccer history (Division I, II, and III). When including men's soccer, it still holds up as the 18th best streak in NCAA soccer history, covering a span of well over 60 years.

This season, the team added 22 games to that run with a near-perfect 19-0-3 record after winning the conference regular season and tournament championships and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive season. CNU advanced to the NCAA Division III National Quarterfinals before falling in a PK shootout, 4-3, to Virginia Wesleyan after a scoreless draw. 

Beset with the loss of legendary scorer Riley Cook along with All-American goalkeeper Hailey Eiser, the Captains' coaching staff showed no signs of slowing in 2022. Facing a challenging schedule ranked among the toughest in the nation, the Captains were among the stingiest defenses in the country. Christopher Newport ranks fourth nationally in shutout-percentage (.727) with a program record 16 clean sheets while also ranking fourth in the country in goals-against average, boasting a 0.315 mark. 

Offensively, senior All-American Sarah Smith paced an attack that averaged nearly two goals per game and showed unparalleled resilience with six game-winning goals in the final 15 minutes of action this season. The Captains scored a pair in the final two minutes of regulation and were never out of a contest. 

Gunderson, Killion, and Lybert all contributed to a group that featured five United Soccer Coaches All-Region players for the second straight year and eight All-Conference selections. 

For his efforts, Gunderson becomes the eighth coach in CNU history to garner multiple Region Coach of the Year accolades.