Working for the Weekend

There are just two weekends remaining in the regular season for field hockey, soccer and volleyball teams to make their move to qualify for the 2005 Centennial Conference championship tournaments. There are a number of big games this weekend ... here are a few highlights.

#15 Gettysburg at #2 Ursinus (Field Hockey)
They don't get any bigger than this one, as a Bullet victory secures the top-seed and homefield advantage for the tournament, while a Bear triumph keeps UC's chances for the #1 seed alive. Ursinus has a 27-match regular-season CC winning streak and has four victories against the Orange and Blue, including two last season (3-1 and 4-1).

Muhlenberg at Swarthmore (Field Hockey)
It is a big game at Clothier Field as this figures to be an elimination game between the Mules (8-7, 3-4 CC) and the Garnet (6-6, 2-4). Four teams in the Conference have four CC losses and can ill afford another in the chase for the fifth and final playoff spot.

Swarthmore at McDaniel (Men's Soccer)
It is "Shakeout Saturday" for the Conference men's soccer race as the Centennial's top two teams square off on the natural grass pitch in Westminster. The Green Terror (10-3-1, 4-1-1 CC) or the Garnet (10-3-1, 4-1-1) can take control of their playoff destiny with a victory. McDaniel has won the last two meetings at home, but the squads battled to a scoreless draw last season at Swarthmore. It may be a battle of goalkeepers between the Terror's Andrew Wu (pictured) and the Garnet's Reuben Heyman-Kantor.

Muhlenberg at Gettysburg (Men's Soccer)
The main beneficiary of the outcome of the Swarthmore-McDaniel match could be the winner of this annual "highlight" game on the CC schedule. The Mules (9-4, 4-2) got back in the playoff chase with a key 1-0 win against Swarthmore on Wednesday. The Bullets (6-4-3, 3-1-2) look to break a two-game losing streak to Muhlenberg and record their first regular-season home win against 'Berg since 1995 (3-2).

Haverford at Gettysburg (Women's Soccer)
The chase for the top seed in Centennial women's soccer is as competitive as it has ever been ... and this match could go a long way to making things more clear. The Fords (12-2-1, 5-1-1 CC) are one game behind league-leading Dickinson (10-1-3, 6-0-1), while the Bullets (7-6-2, 5-2-1) have battled back into the playoff picture with four straight CC wins. Haverford has not won at the Battlefield since 1997 (3-2) although it ended a six-match Gettysburg win streak with a 3-2 win last season on the Main Line.

McDaniel at Haverford (Volleyball)
The Green Terror (9-14, 5-2) has been the surprise team of the Conference this season and can move a step closer to securing a playoff berth with a win at Haverford (15-7, 5-2). Both teams are still in contention for the CC top seed and homecourt for the Centennial tournament. The Fords have won five straight matches in the series after McDaniel won the previous seven.

Muhlenberg at Swarthmore (Volleyball)
It's another elimination game for these two schools, this time on the volleyball court. The Mules (11-13, 3-4 CC) can not afford another loss, while the Garnet (11-12, 4-3) could but it would make things extremely tough. Since 1993, Muhlenberg is 3-0 against the Garnet at Tarble Pavilion.