GENEVA, N.Y. -- After leading the Christopher Newport field hockey team to a record-setting 2023 campaign, head coach Carrie Moura and her assistants were celebrated as the Region VI Coaching Staff of the Year by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.

Moura was honored alongside assistant coaches Marlene Lichty, Yaphet Melendez, and Jessica Wiggins. Previously, the group was named the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year earlier in the fall.

The regional honor is the first for Moura and her staff. 

Guiding the Captains to a historic season, Moura led CNU to a 17-1 record while knocking off six nationally-ranked opponents. Christopher Newport also registered six triumphs against teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament while setting a new program standard with a .944 winning percentage.

CNU eventually captured the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships while finishing 2023 ranked third in the NFHCA National Coaches Poll.

During the season, Moura and her staff coached seven All-League performers, including Player of the Year Abby Asuncion and Defensive Player of the Year Alexis Morales. Five Captains also garnered All-Region accolades, equaling the most in school history.

The 2023 season marked the third consecutive year in which Christopher Newport advanced to the NCAA Tournament, including back-to-back trips to the Sweet 16. Incredibly, Moura's crew reached the national stage despite facing one of the toughest schedules in the country. During the fall, CNU's opposition posted a combined .666 winning percentage, which was the seventh-highest in the NCAA.

Eventually, the Captains wrapped up 2023 ranked third in the nation in scoring defense with a 0.55 goals-against-average. Equally prolific on the offensive end, CNU averaged 4.17 goals per contest, which placed the squad eighth on the national charts.

Overall, the Captains set single-season program records for goals-against-average and save percentage, while their 17 wins, 10 shutouts, and 75 goals equaled the second-most in school lore.

Along with her regional award, Moura was previously named the Conference Coach of the Year four times and the State Coach of the Year on six occasions. She was also honored as the National Coach of the Year by Synapse Sports in 2006. Since taking the reins of the program in 2003, she boasts a 281-88 career record. Her .762 winning percentage is currently the 18th-highest in the history of collegiate field hockey and the ninth-highest among all active coaches in the country.

In addition to her own efforts, Moura has surrounded herself with an equally outstanding collection of assistants. Headlining that group, Lichty has served on the staff since 2014 after wrapping up a decorated playing career that earned her a spot in the Christopher Newport Athletics Hall of Fame. Since transitioning to the sidelines, she has helped CNU compile a 126-42 record, including four trips to the NCAA Tournament.

Meanwhile, Melendez and Wiggins have been critical to the program's success as well. Along with their efforts with the Captains, both coaches have extensive experience working at the club level while also boasting impressive playing careers. Melendez, who has competed with the Puerto Rican National Team, has been with the Captains since 2020, while Wiggins, a former goalie at William & Mary, joined the squad this fall.

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