Men's Soccer Preview: Odds Don't Favor Hopkins Repeat

pictured: Nick Gauna, Johns Hopkins

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With seven starters returning from a championship squad that finished 19-2-2 and reached the NCAA quarterfinals, one would obviously choose Johns Hopkins as the preseason favorite to win the 2007 Centennial title, right? The Conference coaches thought so, tabbing the Jays as the unanimous choice. But something odd lingers in the air in Baltimore.

Johns Hopkins has won the most Centennial titles (6) of any team in the 14-year history of the Conference. The Blue Jays hoisted the trophy in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006. Notice anything odd about those years? That's right ... Hopkins has never won the championship in an odd-numbered year? Muhlenberg has ... four times, while Gettysburg finished first in those other three "odd" years. Is this the year that JHU finally breaks through and wins an "odd-numbered" title? Or in an "Odd" twist of fate, will another team capture the crown?

Johns Hopkins will field a young team, comprised of 15 juniors and sophomores. But seven of those started and 11 saw significant playing time in 2006. Coach Matt Smith must find a replacement in goal for 2006 CC Player of the Year Danny Coble, but whoever gets the start will have three starters back from a defense that allowed 10 goals in 23 games last season. Max Venker (Oldsmar, FL / Palm Harbor University), who scored the golden goal in the CC final against Franklin & Marshall, and Nick Gauna (Evanston, IL / Evanston) will lead the offense.

Gettysburg brings back almost everyone from a 12-6-4 team that lost via penalty kicks in the CC semifinals to Hopkins. Chris Bayon (Langhorne, PA / Lawrenceville School, NJ) and Jesse Gemberling-Johnson (Wyndmoor, PA / Christopher Dock) were both first-team All-CC performers who combined for 19 goals last fall. Adam Finkel (Potomac, MD / Winston Churchill) returns in net after registering five shutouts a year ago.

Franklin & Marshall's season changed with the passing of Chris Campbell, a second-team All-Centennial midfielder, two weeks ago. If the Diplomats can come together through tragedy, F&M could get back to the Conference final for a second straight year. Brandon Corday (Morton Grove, IL / Niles Twp.) was a first-team All-America selection and the 2006 Centennial Player of the Year as a junior, scoring 12 goals with seven assists.

Swarthmore has reached the Conference semifinals in each of the last three years but has been unable to break through to the title match. This year's edition of the Garnet could be the trailblazers. Senior D Brendan Grady (San Jose, CA / Bellarmine College Prep was an All-Region pick last fall and returns to lead the defense in front of senior GK Ryan Sutcliffe (Milford, DE / Milford). Senior Pat Christmas (Chapel Hill, NC / East Chapel Hill) has started every game in his three-year career (60) and anchors the midfield. Forwards Yoi Tibbetts (Sandwich, MA / Sandwich) and Stu Leon (Wrentham, MA / King Philip Regional)shared the team lead with five goals apiece.

Muhlenberg looks to return to the Conference final four after a one-year absence with 11 upperclassmen on the roster. Senior Jonathan Kliewer (Ephrata, PA / Ephrata) anchors the midfield, along with junior Billy Dalton (Sparta, NJ / Sparta), who led the Mules with seven goals in 2006. Peter Bennett (Leola, PA / Conestoga Valley) returns in net after posting an 0.83 goals against mark last fall.

Dickinson won 10 matches for the second straight season and finished just out of the Conference playoffs. The Red Devils will be led by juniors Matt Wood (Rockville, MD / Georgetown Prep) and Paul Coyle (Kensington, MD / Georgetown Prep), who both earned second-team All-CC honors last fall at midfield and defense, respectively.

Washington will look to junior F Brian Schultz (Baltimore, MD / Calvert Hall), a second-team All-Centennial forward, to lead the offense in 2007. Senior GK Marc Petrucci (Avondale, PA / Avon Grove) is the tallest keeper in the Conference at 6-7 and returns after a six-shutout campaign in 2006.

A new era dawns at McDaniel under first-year head coach Jim Reigel. Junior F Joseph Potucek (Germantown, MD / St. John's at Prospect Hall) leads the offense after tallying four goals last fall, while senior Christian Maisel (Eldersburg, MD / Boys Latin School) returns in net. Haverford will be led by junior M Eric Kissinger (Dayton, OH / Miami Valley School), while Ursinus has a new coach in Kyle Rush.

The Friday Tailgate (a day early)

pictured: Chris McInerney, Dickinson

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Talking about early openers! The 2007 Centennial Conference football season kicks off tonight as preseason favorite Ursinus travels to La Salle and newcomer Moravian visits Susquehanna. Five other teams start their campaigns on Saturday, while two more begin the 2007 season a week from Saturday.

Moravian travels to Selinsgrove to take on Susquehanna in the national DIII opener at 7 p.m. The Greyhounds and the Crusaders were long-time foes in the Middle Atlantic Conference, before parting ways to join the Centennial and the Liberty League, respectively. Interestingly enough, Moravian president Dr. Christopher Thomforde was the chaplain at Susquehanna from 1986-96, while 'Hound head coach Scot Dapp was head baseball and assistant football coach at SU for seven seasons before heading to the Lehigh Valley.

Ursinus, the choice of the Conference coaches and SIDs to win the Centennial championship, travels the short distance to Philadelphia to take on La Salle. It is the fifth meeting between the Bears and the Explorers with each team posting two victories.

Muhlenberg heads to the Garden State on Friday night and takes on The College of New Jersey. The Mules return 10 starters on defense, including 2006 MVP Chris Musselman, and their starting QB for the first time since 2002 in Eric Santagato. 'Berg is 4-0 all-time against the Lions.

It is always special for coach Barry Streeter when Gettysburg battles Lebanon Valley, as Streeter is a 1971 graduate of LVC. It is the seventh straight year that the Bullets and the Dutchmen have met in the season opener. Gettysburg was 5-0 last season at Shirk Field at Musselman Stadium and have not lost at home since a loss to Rochester on Sept. 17, 2005.

Johns Hopkins and McDaniel travel to Virginia to take on ODAC foes Hampden-Sydney and Bridgewater, respectively. The Blue Jays play their earliest opener in school history and look for their ninth win in their last 11 season openers. Hopkins is 14-6 against the ODAC since 1996. The Green Terror has gone 17 seasons since posting back-to-back losing campaigns and is one win shy of the 500 mark all-time. QB Brad Baer needs 696 passing yards to become the second CC quarterback to amass 4,000 career passing and 1,000 career rushing yards.

Dickinson heads west to take on Grove City. The defending CC champions return 2006 Centennial Defensive Player of the Year Eric Dube at linebacker and all-around threat Chris McInerney at WR/KR.

Franklin & Marshall and Juniata, the other newcomer to the Conference in 2007, are both idle this week.

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Women's Soccer Preview: Can Hopkins Three-Peat?

pictured: Lisa Nichols, Dickinson

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"Three-peat." To win a championship three straight times. The challenge facing the Johns Hopkins women's soccer team in 2007.

Gettysburg couldn't do it. The Bullets won back-to-back crowns in 1993-94 and 1998-99, but could not corral the third consecutive title in 1995 nor 2000. Muhlenberg couldn't turn the trick, winning championships in 2000-01 but not in 2002. Even Hopkins has been unable to "three-peat," taking the trophy to Baltimore in 1996-97 but leaving it behind in 1998. It is a difficult task, no doubt, made even harder by the fact that the Conference is balanced yet again, returning four teams that won at least 13 matches a year ago.

Johns Hopkins opens the year as the preseason Centennial favorite and is ranked 16th nationally by both the NSCAA and D3kicks.com. A trio of second-team All-CC performers are back for the Jays including Molly Steele (Daleville, VA / North Cross), Chrissy McCurdy (Mountainside, NJ / Gov. Livingston) and Johanna Chapin (Madison, WI / Madison West). Steele was the team's second-leading scorer with 10 goals and four assists.

Swarthmore made its first-ever trip to the Conference championship match last fall, losing a 1-0 decision to Hopkins in Baltimore. The Garnet, who set a school record with 15 wins in 2006, return high-scoring sophomore Katie Kanuka (Oakville, ONT / Holy Trinity Catholic), who led the CC with 17 goals on her way to first-team All-Centennial honors. Junior D Caitlin Mullarkey (Wilmington, DE / Ursuline Academy) was a repeat selection on the All-CC first team, while junior GK Lauren Walker (Fallston, MD / Hotchkiss School) and soph M Maggie DeLorme (Lusby, MD / Patuxent) received honorable mention.

Gettysburg and Johns Hopkins have each won five Centennial titles, but a new day has dawned over the Battlefield as Matt Garrett takes over as head coach, replacing Todd Wawrousek. Seven starters are back for the Bullets, including co-captain Shaina Wright (Gettysburg, PA / Gettysburg), daughter of Gettysburg AD David Wright.

There's young ... and then there is Muhlenberg, who has three seniors, three juniors, 11 sophomores and 11 freshmen on the roster. Senior D Maura Hendsey (E. Windsor, CT / E. Windsor) leads the defense, while twin sisters Christina and Ashley O'Grady (Mechanicsburg, PA / Cumberland Valley) were second-team All-Centennial picks at forward and back, respectively.

Ursinus welcomes back three All-CC seniors in D Cori Turkowski (Bushkill, PA / Warren Hills), M Jess Hartline (Kinnelon, NJ / Kinnelon) and F Chelsea Morin (Newtown, CT / Newtown) in its quest for a fifth straight trip to the CC tournament.

Senior F Lisa Nichols (North Granby, CT / Granby Memorial) leads the Dickinson attack, earning her second straight first-team All-CC nod after scoring 16 goals. She has 31 for her career. Haverford should be strong on defense with senior Hana Rosen (San Diego, CA / Francis Parker School) who earned honorable mention All-Centennial honors in 2006 in front of junior GK Lindsey Festa (Old Field, NY / Stony Brook School).

Franklin & Marshall looks to seniors Athena Manolakos (Wilmington, DE / Tatnall School) and Kathryn Daniels (Tolland, CT / Tolland) to lead the 2007 edition of the Diplomats, who will play on a new turf pitch this fall. McDaniel senior M Sarah Wallace (Gosheen, MA / Hampshire Regional) led the team with 10 goals last fall. The Terror are one of four Centennial teams with a new coach (Bryan Shumaker).

Bryn Mawr will be led by senior M Wallis Romzek (Lawrence, KS / Lawrence Free State) who had four goals and three assists last fall. Washington senior F Megan Russell (Federalsburg, MS / Seaford Christian Academy, DE) and junior F Sarah Yarbrough (Golden, CO / Arvada West) combined for 10 goals for the Shorewomen in 2006.

Volleyball Preview: Can The Fords Repeat?

pictured: Elly Gosheva, Dickinson

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It was a dream season for Haverford volleyball in 2006 with a first-ever Centennial championship ... a first-ever trip to the NCAAs ... and a first-ever victory at the "big dance." Now the question on the Main Line is what do the Fords do for an encore?

Haverford wears the target as the preseason Conference favorite in a poll of Centennial coaches, outdistancing runner-up Franklin & Marshall by a single first-place ballot and three points. Three All-CC performers are back in the fold, including first-team selection and honorable mention All-America choice Rebecca Salvo (La Canada, CA / Flintridge Sacred Heart). Twin sister Rachel was an honorable mention All-CC pick and the duo combined for 7.17 kills per game. Second-team All-Centennial setter Emily Hinchcliff (Ithaca, NY / Ithaca) is the key to the offense.

Franklin & Marshall captured the regular-season title and reached the Centennial final before being blanked by Haverford. Five starters return in a quest to capture the Conference title for the first time since 2000, including 2006 Centennial Player of the Year Margot Phelan (Ellicott City, MD / Centennial). MH Susan Taylor (The Woodlands, TX / John Cooper) and OH Maritza Fair (Bronx, NY / The Nightingale-Bamford School) earned first and second-team All-CC honors, respectively.

Gettysburg's five-year reign atop the Conference came to an end in the Centennial semifinals a year ago. Incentive for 2007 ... you betcha! The Bullets welcome back four All-CC selections, including first-teamers Lauren Thul (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) and Amanda Krampf (Gaithersburg, MD / Gaithersburg) at hitter and setter, respectively. Katie Heffner (Easton, PA / Easton) and Meghan McConville (Eldersburg, MD / Liberty) were honorable mention honorees.

Johns Hopkins looks to replace four seniors from a squad that just missed the CC playoffs last season. Amanda Lewis (San Antonio, TX / St. Mary's Hall) will lead the Blue Jays from her setter position after earning honorable mention All-Centennial honors a year ago.

Dickinson qualified for the Centennial tournament a year ago and looks for its first-ever Final Four berth in 2007. Sophomore Elly Gosheva (Sofia, Bulgaria) was a second-team All-Conference hitter last season, setting a program record for rookies with 372 kills. McDaniel returns five starters from last season's team that made the CC semis. Senior Katie Seibel (Finksburg, MD / Westminster) was an honorable mention All-Centennial hitter, while soph Taylor Herrgott (Derwood, MD / Magruder) could have a breakout season after averaging 3.00 kills per game as a rookie.

Swarthmore welcomes back five starters, including senior hitter Karen Berk (Havertown, PA / Haverford), a two-sport standout who also excels in basketball. Muhlenberg graduated five seniors but hopes that the experience gained from the seven freshmen on the 2006 roster pays dividends in 2007. Megan Young (Coatesville, PA / Coatesville) and Megan Eiser (Doylestown, PA / Central Bucks West) will lead the Mules. Washington's Katherine O'Brien (Severna Park, MD / Severna Park), a second-team All-Centennial hitter, was the first Shorewomen to earn All-CC honors since 1998. She led the Conference in kills per game (4.37).

Ursinus looks to senior Jill Alspach (Farmington Hills, MI / Farmington) to lead the Bears this fall, while Bryn Mawr turns to senior Katie Kronbergs (Austin, TX / Lyndon B. Johnson) and junior Julia Harris (Newbury Park, CA / Newbury Park) as the Owls look to make noise in the Conference in 2007.

AVCA Preview

Field Hockey Preview: Can Anyone Stop the Bears?

pictured: Adair Landy, Johns Hopkins

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Three straight Conference titles. 40 consecutive Centennial regular-season victories. Defending national champion. Can anyone stop the Ursinus field hockey juggernaut?

The Bears return a pair of first-team All-America performers in junior M Kait Sutherland (Perkiomenville, PA / Perkiomen Valley), the 2006 Centennial Player of the Year, and senior GK Jess Lamina (Doylestown, PA / Central Bucks West), a three-time first-team All-CC stopper. Sutherland had 12 goals and 15 assists a year ago, while Lamina had a 1.09 goals against average with seven shutouts. Junior F Jennie Moore (Phoenixville, PA / Phoenixville), a second-team All-CC pick after tallying 13 goals, will also be a key on offense. Ursinus is ranked No. 1 in the preseason NFHCA Division III coaches poll.

Johns Hopkins, the Conference runner-up a year ago, has returning firepower in juniors Adair Landy (Montclair, NJ / Montclair) and Emily Miller (Garden City, NY / Garden City) who both earned first-team All-CC recognition last fall. Miller led the Centennial with 19 goals and 10 assists, while Landy added 12 and eight. Junior Leah Horton (Wayne, PA / Upper Merion), a second-team choice, also returns for the Blue Jays. Hopkins is ranked 17th in the preseason NFHCA poll.

Gettysburg returns six of its top eight scorers and a three-year starting keeper in its quest to unseat Ursinus. Senior Cristi Farrell (Broomall, PA / Academy of Notre Dame) leads the offense after notching a team-high eight goals last season. Sarah Latta (West Chester, PA / Henderson) earned honorable mention All-CC honors on defense a year ago, while GK Katherine Corkhill (Paoli, PA / Academy of Notre Dame) has 17 career shutouts.

Muhlenberg made its first-ever trip to the Centennial semis in 2006 and welcome back All-CC performers Lauren Rutt (Stevens, PA / Cocalico) and Nikki Rhoades (Fleetwood, PA / Oley Valley) in its quest to return to the CC Final Four. Senior Jillian Duffy (Massapequa, NY / Massapequa) leads the offense after scoring 12 goals last season.

McDaniel will look to second-team All-CC B Brooke Dixon (Clayton, DE / Smyrna) to anchor the defense, while junior M Michelle Fluty (Huntingtown, MD / Calvert) leads the offense.

Franklin & Marshall looks to return to the five-team Centennial playoffs behind junior M Jessika Mancino (Lancaster, PA / Hempfield) who had a team-high five goals a year ago. Junior D Mollie Ruben (Hingham, MA / Hingham), a returning first-team All-CC selection, returns to anchor the defense.

Swarthmore's defense was tied for third in the CC in goals allowed per game (1.71) last fall and junior Anna Baeth (Frederick, MD / Frederick) returns after earning second-team All-Centennial recognition. Senior Abigail Fischer (Sudbury, MA / Lincoln-Sudbury) and junior Ashley Gunter (Crisfield, MD / Worcester Prep) combined for 17 goals last season.

Sophomore M Alyssa Sands (Copely, OH / Western Reserve Academy) scored five goals and handed out seven assists as a rookie and will lead Dickinson in 2007. Junior M Amy Spadanuta (Hackettstown, NJ / Warren Hills) is the leading offensive threat for Washington after tallying four goals a year ago. Haverford looks to junior D Julia McGuire (Bethesda, MD / Walt Whitman) to anchor the Fords' defense in 2007, while senior A Colleen Farrell (Pitman, NJ / Wilmington Friends, DE) scored eight goals last fall. Bryn Mawr will be young with five freshmen playing key roles with leadership provided by junior Lily Chen (Bedfordview, South Africa / Vivian Webb, CA).

Trolling for Polls

If it's late August, it must mean "polling season" in Division III, as the fall teams gear up for the start of the new year. The Centennial Conference is well-represented in the early lists, including a preseason #1 ranking for the Ursinus field hockey team. Johns Hopkins comes in at No. 17 according to the NFHCA. The Blue Jay men's soccer team also garnered a top-10 preseason rank at No. 7 by the NSCAA, while Franklin & Marshall also received top 25 consideration. Hopkins was listed sixth and the Diplomats received votes in the D3kicks.com preseason poll. The Johns Hopkins women's team was ranked 16th by both the NSCAA and D3kicks.com, while Swarthmore received votes in the D3kicks.com listing. There is no love for the CC in the D3football.com preseason rankings with just Dickinson among teams receiving votes. Volleyball was also snubbed by the AVCA with Haverford receiving votes.

D3football.com's Kickoff Preview

D3football.com has released its 2007 Kickoff Preview and the editors agree with the Centennial coaches and SIDs - Ursinus is the team to beat. The Conference report can be found here while you can also receive the entire online publication for $8.95 ($4.95 if you have a .edu address).