Five-Star Matchups 10.25.06

McDaniel at Johns Hopkins (Volleyball)
This is essentially a first-round playoff match as the Green Terror (16-8, 5-3) and the Blue Jays (13-12, 4-4) meet in Baltimore. A win locks up a tourney berth for McDaniel for the first time since 1998. A Hopkins win gives JHU the tie-breaker advantage over the Terror should the two teams end in a tie. And with only matches against the bottom two teams in the CC remaining, the winner is in the driver's seat. The Green and Gold leads the all-time series, 14-11, but has not defeated the Jays in Goldfarb Gym since 1994 (3-1).

Ursinus at Haverford (Women's Soccer)
It shapes up as a first-round playoff match today on the Main Line as the Bears (8-5, 5-3) and the Fords (5-8-2, 4-4) both need a victory to keep their tourney hopes alive. Haverford holds an 8-1-1 all-time series lead, including two straight victories. Ursinus did gain a tie at Walton Field in 2002 (2-2).

McDaniel at Johns Hopkins; Muhlenberg at Franklin & Marshall (Field Hockey)
Two games that have an impact on the five-team tournament field highlight Wednesday's schedule. The Green Terror (9-7, 6-2) travels down 140 to take on the Blue Jays (11-5, 7-1) in a game that Hopkins needs to keep its hopes alive for the top seed. The Mules (9-6, 4-4) head down 222 to face the Diplomats (4-11, 4-8). The winner has a leg up on the fifth and final playoff berth, while the loser needs help in the Saturday season finales. McDaniel and Muhlenberg are looking to make history today, as neither the Terror nor the Mules have won at Homewood Field or Baker Campus, respectively, since the start of the Conference in 1993 (0-6).

McDaniel at Gettysburg (Men's Soccer)
The Green Terror (8-8, 3-4) heads up 97 to take on the Bullets (9-5-1, 4-3) in a match both teams must have to keep their playoff hopes alive. It promises to be a close match, as three of the last four between the rivals have gone to overtime, including the 2005 CC semifinal in Westminster, won by Gettysburg, 1-0. The Bullets hold the all-time series advantage, 31-25-8.