Championship Week - 1st Round Wednesday

It's Championship Week in the Centennial Conference and Wednesday is first-round day with four games in four sports to determine the final four. We'll try to keep you posted throughout the day right here with score updates, courtesy of the Conference Office and the Centennial SIDs.

Field Hockey - Franklin & Marshall at Gettysburg, 3:00
The fourth-seeded Bullets (11-6) are making their sixth appearance in the Centennial playoffs and look to make their fourth trip to the semis in five seasons. The fifth-seeded Diplomats (11-6) are in the CC tourney for the fifth time and look to reach the final four for the first time since 2004. Gettysburg won the regular-season matchup by a 5-1 count to narrow the all-time deficit to 19-18-3. The Bullets have won five Centennial championships (1994-97-98-99-01) while the Diplomats look for their first.

Women's Soccer - Gettysburg at Haverford, 3:00
The fourth-seeded Fords (9-6-2) are making their third trip to the Centennial playoffs and first since 2005. The fifth-seeded Bullets (7-10-1) have participated in every CC tournament since its inception in 2002. Haverford captured a 2-0 decision in the regular-season meeting to close the all-time series deficit to 10-5. The Bullets have won five Centennial titles (1993-94-98-99-04), while the Fords won the 1995 championship. The two teams have never met in the Centennial soccer playoffs. Follow all the action with Live Stats, courtesy of Haverford Sports Information.

Men's Soccer - Dickinson at Gettysburg, 6:00
Clark Field should be rocking as these two long-time rivals - separated by just 28 miles - square off in the first round of the nation's top Conference tournament. The Centennial has five teams in the top six of the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region - a total unmatched by any DIII conference. No. 4 seed Gettysburg (11-6) has won three Centennial titles (1993-99-01) and has played in five of the six CC tournaments. No. 5 seed Dickinson (13-2-2) is making its inaugural trip to the Conference postseason and looks to avenge a 6-0 loss to the Bullets on the road on Oct. 20. This is the 67th meeting between the two schools with the Orange and Blue holding a 44-19-3 series lead.

Volleyball - Dickinson at Gettysburg, 7:30
And after the soccer match, folks will probably head to Bream Gymnasium as the fourth-seeded Bullets (17-12) welcome the fifth-seeded Red Devils (11-15) for a first-round match. Gettysburg leads the all-time series, 30-7, and has not lost to Dickinson since a 2-1 loss in 1990. The Bullets have won 11 Centennial championships, while the Red Devils look to reach their first-ever Conference semifinal. You can listen to all the action, courtesy of WDCV-FM 88.3.

Saturday Updates

Cross Country
Women: 1. Dickinson 33, 2. Haverford 52, 3. Johns Hopkins 81, 4. Swarthmore 122, 5. Gettysburg 131, 6. Ursinus 185, 7. Muhlenberg 193, 8. Franklin & Marshall 198, 9. Bryn Mawr 252, 10. McDaniel 293.

Individuals: 1. Cait Bradley (D) 22:11, course record; 2. Annick Lamar (H) 22:47; 3. Laura Paulsen (JH) 23:08; 4. Jane Weber (H) 23:17; 5. Layla Naficy (D) 23:19; 6. Darian Lunne (H) 23:24; 7. Rachel Guthridge (G) 23:31; 8. Laura Straw (D) 23:35; 9. Caitlin Strahota (D) 23:37; 10. Anna Lovett (D) 23:38.

Men: 1. Haverford 21, 2. Dickinson 55, 3. Johns Hopkins 84, 4. Muhlenberg 110, 5. Swarthmore 127, 6. Gettysburg 179, 7. Franklin & Marshall 209, 8. McDaniel 221, 9. Ursinus 288.

Individuals: 1. Donald Letts (H) 25:50, course record; 2. Ian Ramsey-North (H) 25:50; 3. Anders Hulleberg (H) 25:54; 4. Andrew Lanham (H) 25:58; 5. Brian Krusell (D) 26:00; 6. Tim Van Syckle (Mu) 26:24; 7. Patrick Brandon (JH) 26:26; 8. Greg Leak (D) 26:31; 9. Evan Sparling (D) 26:35; 10. David Chorney (Mu) 26:35.

Football
Muhlenberg 29, Dickinson 24
Franklin & Marshall 24, McDaniel 17 (OT)
Final: Ursinus 27, Moravian 0
3rd Quarter: Johns Hopkins 42, Juniata 7

Field Hockey
Final: Ursinus 5, Johns Hopkins 1
Final: McDaniel 3, Haverford 2

Men's Soccer
Final: Dickinson 2, Franklin & Marshall 0

Volleyball
Haverford 3, McDaniel 0
Johns Hopkins 3, Ursinus 1

The Final Day

pictured: Ian Ramsey-North, Haverford

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... of the 2007 regular season for field hockey, soccer and volleyball is Saturday and top seeds are strill up for grabs. The 15th annual Centennial cross country championships will be at Franklin & Marshall, while first place in football is on the line in Allentown. It promises to be a great weekend ... we hope to see you at a Conference venue.

Centennial Conference Championships (Cross Country)
The UCLA men's basketball team reeled off 88 consecutive victories during the 70s. The Connecticut women's team won 70 straight basketball games from 2001-03. Joe DiMaggio hit safely in 56 consecutive baseball games in 1941. And then there are the Haverford men's and Dickinson women's cross country teams. The Fords and the Red Devils go for their 15th and eighth consecutive titles, respectively, at the 15th annual Conference championship meet at Franklin & Marshall. The women's 6K race begins at 11 a.m. while the men's 8K race starts at noon.  Preview

Johns Hopkins at Ursinus (Field Hockey)
Doesn't get much bigger than this ... winner gets the top seed and hosts next weekend's tournament. The seventh-ranked Blue Jays (8-0 CC, 12-3) come to Collegeville to take on the sixth-ranked Bears (8-1, 14-2) who are on a roll. Following a loss to F&M on Oct. 6, Ursinus has defeated six straight opponents by an aggregate score of 43-1. The Bears are 7-1 all-time against the Hopkins, but the Jays' win came in Collegeville in the 2003 Centennial semifinals by a 1-0 count.

Dickinson at Muhlenberg (Football)
It's one of the top games in the country this weekend in Allentown as the defending CC champion Red Devils (4-1, 6-1) come to town to battle the undefeated Mules (5-0, 7-0). It is the 63rd time that the two schools have met on the gridiron since 1923 with 'Berg holding a 36-24-1 advantage. The Mules are ranked 17th in Division III by the AFCA and 20th by D3football.com.

Franklin & Marshall at Dickinson (Men's Soccer)
It's simple really ... the Red Devils (4-2-2, 12-2-2) win, they're in the Conference tournament. A loss and Dickinson needs help. Standing in the Devils' path, the #12 team in the country - Franklin & Marshall (7-1, 15-1). It is the 56th meeting between the two clubs with the Diplomats holding a 33-17-5 advantage. Dickinson won last year's meeting by a 1-0 count in Carlisle.

Swarthmore at Haverford (Men's Soccer)
It is the 85th renewal of one of college soccer's oldest rivalries as the Garnet (4-3-1, 10-3-3) and the Fords (0-7-1, 2-13-1) meet on Walton Field. Haverford holds a 43-33-8 series lead but Swarthmore has won three straight. The Garnet need a victory to keep its playoff hopes alive and there is nothing that would make a disappointing season brighter for the Fords than a win over their archrival.

Johns Hopkins at Ursinus (Women's Soccer)
The top seed and homefield advantage is on the line in Collegeville in another sport as the Blue Jays (8-1, 12-4-1) and the Bears (7-1-1, 11-4-2) meet on the soccer pitch. Hopkins is the two-time defending Centennial titleist and has never lost to Ursinus in 11 matches. The Bears managed a 1-1 draw in 2005 in the teams' last meeting in Collegeville. An Ursinus win gives the Bears the #1 seed, while a win or draw does the same for Hopkins.

Haverford at McDaniel (Women's Soccer)
The fifth and final playoff berth is at stake for the Fords (5-2-2, 8-6-2) who control their own destiny. A victory puts Haverford in the next week's tournament field, while a loss opens the door for Franklin & Marshall. The Green Terror (2-7, 3-14) won last year's meeting in Westminster by a 2-1 count to close the series deficit to 9-6-2.

Franklin & Marshall at Swarthmore (Women's Soccer)
The challenge is daunting for the Diplomats (5-4, 8-5-2) - beat Swarthmore (6-2-1, 11-2-1) and hope that McDaniel can defeat or draw Haverford to keep their playoff dreams alive. History is on F&M's side, as the Blue and White holds a 23-3-1 all-time series advantage. Of course, the Garnet is 3-1 over the last four seasons with the Diplomats, including a 2-0 win last season.

Haverford at McDaniel (Volleyball)
A three-way tie for the Conference lead will be sorted out after this match in Westminster. The 15th ranked Fords (8-1, 26-2) can wrap up the top seed and gain homecourt advantage for next weekend's CC final four with a victory. The Green Terror (8-1, 15-7) needs a win vs. Haverford and an Ursinus (1-8, 5-17) upset of Johns Hopkins (8-1, 22-4) to secure the #1 position. A McDaniel win, combined with a Blue Jay victory, gives Hopkins the top spot. Haverford has won seven straight in the series to pull even at 7-7.

Five-Star Matchups 10.24

Gettysburg at Johns Hopkins (Men's Soccer)
The Bullets (5-2 CC, 10-5) make the trip to Charm City to take on the #20 Blue Jays (5-2, 13-3) in a critical match for both teams playoff chances. Both are a game behind first-place Franklin & Marshall (6-1, 14-1) in the chase for the top seed and the homefield advantage for next week's Conference tournament. Both are also in the mix of a five-team bottleneck for second and third place and first-round byes in the playoffs. It is the 70th meeting between Gettysburg and Johns Hopkins with the Jays holding a 41-19-9 series lead and a 4-0-3 advantage in the last seven matches. The Bullets' last win was a 2-1 triumph at Homewood Field in the 2001 Centennial semifinals.


Muhlenberg at Swarthmore (Men's Soccer)
The Mules (5-2, 10-3) and the Garnet (4-2-1, 10-2-3) meet in a crucial match with major Conference playoff implications. Muhlenberg is in a three-way tie for second place in the CC with Gettysburg and Johns Hopkins and has a two-point advantage over Swarthmore in the standings. The Garnet is currently in the No. 5 position, two points in front of Dickinson for the final playoff spot. A win puts either team in the Centennial tournament that begins next Wednesday. Muhlenberg leads the all-time series, 27-23-2, but has not won at Clothier Field since 2002 (2-0).

pictured: Evan Nesterak, Swarthmore

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McDaniel at Johns Hopkins (Volleyball)
The race for homecourt advantage in next week's Conference tournament is on and this match will go a long way to determining the 2007 host. The Green Terror (8-0, 15-6) holds a one-game lead on the Blue Jays (7-1, 21-4) and Haverford (7-1, 25-2) and squares off with the Fords on Saturday. Two wins clinches the top seed for McDaniel. Two wins and a Haverford loss gets JHU the No. 1 spot. Two Haverford wins gains homecourt for the Fords. McDaniel leads the series with Hopkins, 14-12, but the Jays have won five straight and six in a row in Baltimore since a 3-1 Terror triumph in 1994.

Dickinson at Gettysburg (Volleyball)
The stakes are high tonight at Bream Gym as these two long-time rivals meet in the most important match between the two in some time. The winner between the Red Devils (5-3, 10-14) and the Bullets (5-3, 15-12) is in the Centennial tournament ... the loser has to win on Saturday or hope for an F&M loss to Swarthmore. Gettysburg leads the all-time series, 30-6, and has not lost to Dickinson since 1990.

Five-Star Matchups 10.23

Swarthmore at Haverford (Women's Soccer)
Like this game needs any more build-up ... the Garnet (6-2 CC, 11-2) make the short trip up the road to take on the Fords (5-2-1, 8-6-1) in a match that has serious playoff implications. The winner locks up a playoff spot and has a leg up on securing a first-round bye for next week's tournament. Haverford holds a 15-8 all-time series edge and has won seven straight from Swarthmore at Walton Field.

pictured: Megan Colombo, Swarthmore

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Dickinson at Gettysburg (Field Hockey)
A lot is on the line as these two long-time rivals meet at the Battlefield today. The Red Devils (4-4, 7-8) need a victory to keep their playoff hopes alive, while the Bullets (6-2, 10-5) are still battling for not only a berth in the tourney, but also a first-round bye. This is the 39th meeting between the two schools in a series that began in 1954 with Gettysburg holding a 26-10-2 advantage.

Ursinus at Muhlenberg (Field Hockey)
The sixth-ranked Bears (7-1, 13-2) travel to Allentown to take on the Mules (6-2, 11-5) in a game with playoff implications. Ursinus needs a victory to keep its hopes of getting the top seed in the CC tournament. Muhlenberg can move a step closer to a first-round bye with a win. The Bears are 5-0 all-time against the Mules, including a 3-0 triumph in the Centennial semifinals last season.

The Friday Tailgate 10.19

Little Brown Buckets and Homecomings dot the weekend's slate of games with a key tilt taking place at the Battlefield.


pictured: Chris McInerney, Dickinson

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Dickinson (5-1) at Gettysburg (5-2)
It's the annual battle for the "Little Brown Bucket" between two neighboring rivals with a shot at the Centennial title on the line. It is the 73rd time that the Red Devils and the Bullets have met on the gridiron since 1892 with Gettysburg holding a 40-30-2 series advantage. The last time these two teams came into the Bucket battle so high in the standings was 1994 when Dickinson was 8-0 and Gettysburg 7-1. This season, with one CC loss, both teams are a game back of front-running Muhlenberg and can ill afford another Conference defeat. It's another teacher vs. pupil game for Gettysburg coach Barry Streeter, as Dickinson head man Darwin Breaux was an assistant under Streeter until 1989.

Muhlenberg (6-0) at Franklin & Marshall (1-5)
It's Homecoming in Lancaster as the Mules and the Diplomats meet for the 89th time since 1902. F&M holds a 50-37-1 series lead and has taken three straight from 'Berg. Muhlenberg is 6-0 for the first time since 1946 and have won seven in a row for the first time since the 1947 and 1948 teams won a school-record nine consecutive games. The Mules are ranked 24th by D3football.com and 21st by the AFCA. Franklin & Marshall's last win over a ranked opponent was a 20-7 triumph over #16 McDaniel in 2004.

Ursinus (5-1) at McDaniel (1-5)
The Bears and the Green Terror meet for the 32nd straight year in a series that began in 1976. McDaniel holds a 24-6-1 advantage and has won six in a row from Ursinus at Bair Stadium. The Bears' last win in Westminster was a 42-33 shootout in 1993. Injuries have taken their toll on the Terror, who will start third-stringer Zach Swope at QB. McDaniel has just five senior starters listed among the top 22.

Juniata (0-6) at Moravian (5-2)
It's Homecoming Day at Rocco Calvo Field as the two Centennial newcomers meet in the 53rd renewal of their series, whch is tied at 25-25-2. The series has had a history of close games with a streak of five straight years in which the game ended in a regulation tie from 1995 until 1999. Four of those games went to overtime and three won by Moravian. Does anyone want to play running back for the 'Hounds? Moravian has lost Tyler McCambridge, Tyler DeRouen and now Morgan DeRouen to injuries. Juniata is still looking for its first Centennial win and its first road victory since 2003 (0-13).


NCAA Statistical Leaders (Top 20)
Total Defense: 3. Muhlenberg, 164.2
Rushing Offense: 20. Gettysburg, 249.4
Rushing Defense: 9. Muhlenberg, 59.8
Pass Efficiency Defense: 2. Muhlenberg, 71.7
Scoring Defense: 3. Muhlenberg, 6.2
Pass Sacks Allowed: 15. Gettysburg, 1.0
Turnovers Gained: 20. Moravian, 20.0

Rushing Yards per Game: 5. Tom Sturges, Gettysburg, 149.4
Passing Efficiency: 15. Marc Braxmeier, Moravian, 158.7
Receptions per Game: 7. George Eager, Franklin & Marshall, 8.2
Punt Returns: 14. Charlie Curcio, Gettysburg, 14.8
Kickoff Returns: 4. Ryan Van Wright, Ursinus, 34.2
Field Goals per Game: 5. Brian Reckenbeil, Moravian, 1.6; 12. Alex Lachman, Johns Hopkins, 1.3
Total Tackles: 11. Eric Dube, Dickinson, 13.8
Forced Fumbles: 3. Andrew Morrissey, Moravian, 0.57

Five-Star Matchups 10.19

Johns Hopkins at Franklin & Marshall
(Men's Soccer)
It's a first-place showdown that will wrap up Homecoming weekend in Lancaster as the #11 Blue Jays (5-1, 13-2) take on the #18 Diplomats (5-1, 13-1). It is the 59th meeting on the pitch between the two schools with Hopkins holding a 36-18-4 advantage, including a 13-1-2 record since the inception of the Centennial. F&M's last win was a 4-2 overtime decision at Homewood Field in 1993. Both games last season went to overtime with the Blue Jays winning the Conference championship with a 2-1 triumph in Baltimore.

pictured: Ben McAbee, Johns Hopkins

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Muhlenberg at Franklin & Marshall (Field Hockey)
The Mules (6-1 CC, 11-4) travel to meet the Diplomats (5-3, 9-5) on Homecoming in Lancaster. F&M leads the all-time series, 9-5-1, but Muhlenberg captured last season's meeting on the grass surface at Baker Campus by a 2-0 count. The Mules are a game back of CC leader Johns Hopkins in the chase for first place, while the Diplomats need a victory to keep a hold on the fifth and final playoff position. Muhlenberg never won back-to-back games against the Diplomats.

Dickinson at Gettysburg (Football)
The Red Devils (3-1, 5-1) and the Bullets (4-1, 5-2) meet in the battle for the Little Brown Bucket in what could be an elimination game for the CC title. Both teams are chasing undefeated Muhlenberg and can ill afford another league loss. It is the 72nd meeting between the two teams with Gettysburg holding a 39-30-2 advantage. Dickinson, however, has won 10 of the last 11 meetings.

Swarthmore at Gettysburg (Women's Soccer)
It's a rematch of the 2006 Centennial semifinals when the #22 ranked Garnet (6-1, 11-1) travels to the Battlefield to take on the Bullets (4-3, 5-9-1). Swarthmore downed Gettysburg, 1-0, in that match for its first win over the Orange and Blue since 2002. The Bullets, who can ill afford another league loss, are 16-3-1 all-time against the Garnet.

Dickinson at Haverford (Volleyball)
Coming off their first victory over Franklin & Marshall since 1989, the Red Devils (5-2, 10-13) look to knock off #18 ranked Haverford (6-1, 24-2) on the road. The Fords have won nine straight in the series to take a 12-5 overall lead. Dickinson's last win was a five-game thriller on the Main Line in 1999.

Five-Star Matchups 10.17

pictured: Taylor Herrgott, McDaniel

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Gettysburg at McDaniel (Volleyball)
It is the longest-running series in the Conference as the Bullets (5-2, 15-10) and the Green Terror (6-0, 13-6) meet for the 64th time in their rivalry. McDaniel holds a 40-23 advantage and won the last match at the Gill Center in 2005 in five games. Gettysburg has won 15 of the last 16 matches including a thrilling five-game decision at Bream Gym last fall.

Gettysburg at McDaniel (Field Hockey)
Two teams battling for fifth place usually doesn't draw a lot of attention ... unless fifth place gets you in the playoffs and sixth place sends you home for the season. The Bullets (4-2 CC, 8-5) make the trip down Route 97 to take on the Green Terror (3-3, 5-9) for the 38th time in a series that dates to 1948. Gettysburg holds a 26-6-5 advantage, but had a five-game winning streak snapped by McDaniel last season, 3-0.

Ursinus at Swarthmore (Women's Soccer)
Two of the top teams in the Conference square off at Clothier Field as the first-place Bears (6-0-1, 9-3-2) take on the 22nd ranked Garnet (5-1, 10-1). Ursinus, who can clinch a playoff spot with a victory, has won four straight in the series since a 3-1 Swarthmore win at home in 2002. The Bears lead the Conference in goals (43), while the Garnet tops Centennial teams in goals allowed (4).

The Friday Tailgate

Four games are on tap in the Conference this weekend, including one that could shake up the standings if history holds form.

McDaniel at Muhlenberg
The first-place Mules welcome their tormentors to Allentown for the 36th meeting in their rivalry ... the Green Terror has won 11 straight games from Muhlenberg and are 15-1-1 against 'Berg since 1990 ... McDaniel was idle last week after defeating Juniata for its first win of the season ... RB Eric Zwilsky (pictured) has burst onto the Centennial scene and is second in the Conference with nine TDs ... Muhlenberg is 5-0 for the first time since 1983 and only the third time in school history ... the Mules have scored in 99 consecutive games since a 21-0 shutout by Hartwick on Sept. 5, 1998.

Juniata at Gettysburg
Can you say "trap game"? The Bullets have to be wary of looking ahead to next week's Little Brown Bucket game against Dickinson when they host the winless Eagles ... It is teacher vs. pupil as Juniata head man Darrell Alt was an assistant on Barry Streeter's staff at Gettysburg in 2000 and 2001 ... JC has won three straight games at the Battlefield (1973-77-79) as the team renew acquaintances for the first time since 1980 ... Gettysburg has won three straight road games for the first time since 2001-02 ... RB Tom Sturges is 135 yards away from becoming just the fifth back in Centennial history to rush for 1,000 yards three times.

Moravian at Franklin & Marshall
Both the Greyhounds and the Diplomats enter the contest riding two-game losing streaks ... the 'Hounds are 1-11 all-time in Lancaster with the lone victory coming in 1991 (7-6) ... the number to watch Saturday is 20 - Moravian is 4-0 when amassing 20 or more first downs and 0-2 when moving the chains fewer times ... the #2 and #3 passing offenses in the CC will be on display, as F&M's Kyle Turner is averaging 221.0 yards passing per game, while Moravian's Marc Braxmeier leads the CC in TD passes (13).

Ursinus at Johns Hopkins
The Bears and the Blue Jays for the 50th consecutive year in a series that dates to 1958 ... the game features two of the top young RBs in the Conference in Ursinus' Aaron Harper and Hopkins' Andrew Kase ... Harper averages 106.8 yards per game, while Kase has rushed for 100 yards in each of the last three games ... Blue Jay QB Michael Murray has thrown for over 200 yards in three straight games but will be challenged by the Bear defense which is ranked second in the CC against the pass.

NCAA Statistical Leaders (Top 20)
Total Defense: 3. Muhlenberg, 177.0
Rushing Defense: 8. Muhlenberg, 58.6
Pass Efficiency Defense: 2. Muhlenberg, 75.4
Scoring Defense: 3. Muhlenberg, 7.4
Turnover Margin: 19. Muhlenberg, 1.8
Team Pass Sacks: 19. Muhlenberg, 3.6
Pass Sacks Allowed: 13. Gettysburg, 1.0
Turnovers Gained: 10. Moravian, 18.0

Rushing Yards per Game: 6. Tom Sturges, Gettysburg, 144.2
Passing Efficiency: 14. Marc Braxmeier, Moravian, 159.9
Receptions per Game: 14. George Eager, Franklin & Marshall, 8.0
Scoring: 14. Eric Zwilsky, McDaniel, 10.8
Kickoff Returns: 5. Ryan Van Wright, Ursinus, 34.2
Field Goals per Game: 3. Brian Reckenbeil, Moravian, 1.7; 10. Alex Lachman, Johns Hopkins, 1.3
Total Tackles: 8. Eric Dube, Dickinson, 13.8
Forced Fumbles: 2. Andrew Morrissey, Moravian, 0.67; 12. Kevin McGorry, Moravian, 0.5

Five-Star Matchups

Muhlenberg at Johns Hopkins (Field Hockey)
It's a first-place showdown in Baltimore as the Mules (6-0, 10-3) and the Blue Jays (6-0, 10-2) put their unbeaten CC marks on the line. Seventh-ranked Hopkins holds a 12-3 advantage in the series since 1993 with victories in each of the last two meetings. Muhlenberg is looking to break its Homewood jinx, as 'Berg is winless in its eight trips to the Charm City. The present indicates a low-scoring affair, as Muhlenberg (0.95) and Hopkins (1.06) are 1-2 in the Conference in goals against average. The past points to a high-scoring game, as the two teams have combined for 16 goals in their last two meetings against one another.

pictured: Lauren Rutt, Muhlenberg

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Muhlenberg at Johns Hopkins (Women's Soccer)
Two perennial Centennial powerhouses meet in a critical Conference game Saturday at Homewood Field. The Mules (3-1-1, 6-3-3) need a win to keep pace with CC front-runners Ursinus and Swarthmore. The Blue Jays (5-1, 9-4-1) could move into first place in the CC with a victory and an Ursinus loss. Hopkins, ranked ninth in the region, holds a 10-6-1 series lead with three wins in the last four meetings. Muhlenberg has never won on the turf at Homewood in its six tries.

Franklin & Marshall at Swarthmore (Men's Soccer)
A classic "trap" game for the Diplomats (5-0, 13-0) as they travel down the Blue Route to face the Garnet (2-2-1, 7-2-3). Franklin & Marshall, one of the five remaining unbeaten teams in Division III, plays host to Johns Hopkins (4-1, 12-1) next Saturday. Swarthmore could catch ninth-ranked F&M looking ahead and since six of the last seven matches between the two teams have been 1-0 decisions, a break either way could make the difference. The Garnet leads the all-time series, 32-24-4, which began in 1926.

Five-Star Matchups

Johns Hopkins at Franklin & Marshall (Field Hockey)
This one is a potential playoff preview as the seventh-ranked Blue Jays (5-0 CC, 9-2) look to keep their share of the top spot in the Conference against the #18 ranked Diplomats (4-1, 8-3). History is on the side of Hopkins, as JHU is 18-7-1 all-time against F&M, including a 14-2 mark since 1993. Franklin & Marshall, fresh from a 3-2 upset of Ursinus which ended the Bears' 44-game CC regular-season win streak, have won both of those games in Lancaster (2001, 2004).

Swarthmore at Muhlenberg (Women's Soccer)
Two of the top teams in the Conference meet in a critical match in Allentown. The 24th ranked Garnet (4-1, 8-1) are a point back of Ursinus for first place in the CC, while the Mules (3-0-1, 6-2-3) have yet to suffer a defeat in Conference play. Muhlenberg has won nine straight in the series and holds an 11-1-1 overall advantage. Swarthmore's last win came at home in 1994 (3-1).


Haverford at Gettysburg (Volleyball)
The 11th ranked Fords (5-0, 23-0) look to extend their school-record win streak when they visit Bream Gym to take on the Bullets (3-1, 13-9) in a rematch of the 2006 CC semifinals. Haverford downed Gettysburg in three games last week at NYU to make it two straight over the Orange and Blue. But the Fords have never won at Bream (0-10 since 1993).

pictured: Amanda Krampf, Gettysburg

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Johns Hopkins at Franklin & Marshall (Volleyball)
It is always a great match when the Blue Jays (4-1, 18-4) and the Diplomats (3-2, 15-8) meet on the court and 2007 promises to be no different. A JHU victory would make coach Scott Pennewill (98-42) the winningest volleyball coach at Homewood. Franklin & Marshall is 18-9 all-time against the Blue Jays ... has won two straight from Hopkins ... and has not lost to JHU at home in the last eight matches. Three of the last six matches have gone five games.

Soccer Notebook

A look around the Conference as we reach the halfway pole ...

The Dickinson men ended Johns Hopkins' 53-match Centennial home winning streak with a 2-1 triumph at Homewood Field last Saturday ... Paul Coyle (Kensington, MD / Georgetown Prep) and Tom Parkinson (Westfield, NJ / Westfield) scored goals for the Red Devils ... it was JHU's first CC loss at home since Oct. 7, 1995, and just the second Centennial home defeat in program history ... Franklin & Marshall seized the opportunity to take over first place with a 1-0 triumph vs. McDaniel ... the Diplomats are 12-0 and one of five unbeatens in Division III men's soccer - Trinity (Texas), North Carolina Wesleyan, Stevens, and Amherst ... Muhlenberg improved to 19-0-2 all-time against Washington with a 3-0 win at Chestertown ... Gettysburg scored twice in the final eight minutes to force overtime and got the game-winner from Bobby Moore (Harpswell, ME / Hyde School) in the 98th minute to defeat Haverford, 3-2 ... Games to Watch This Week: Tuesday - Elizabethtown at Franklin & Marshall; Saturday - Franklin & Marshall at Swarthmore.

The women's race is as clear as mud right now with five teams with one or fewer losses ... Ursinus remains atop the standings at 4-0-1 (13 pts) with Swarthmore (12) and Johns Hopkins (12) a point back ... Muhlenberg (10) and Haverford (7) have played one fewer game than the leaders, while Franklin & Marshall (9) is in the hunt as well ... the Bears and the Fords battled to a scoreless draw last Wednesday ... it was a big week for Hopkins as the Jays edged Swarthmore and Gettysburg by 1-0 counts in overtime ... Allie Zazzali (Scotch Plains, NJ / Scotch Plains-Fanwood) and Jane O'Connor (Pittsgrove, NJ / Arthur P. Schalick) scored the golden goals ... Muhlenberg improved to 10-0 all-time against Washington with a 5-0 win - the Mules' biggest road shutout since 1994 ... Haverford lost to #2 Messiah, 5-1, but ended the Falcons' scoreless streak at 564:06 ... Dickinson's Sarah Casey (Severna Park, MD / Archbishop Spalding) had a hat trick in the win at Juniata ... Games to Watch: Wednesday - Swarthmore at Muhlenberg; Saturday - Muhlenberg at Johns Hopkins.

The Friday Tailgate

Johns Hopkins (0-3, 1-4) at Dickinson (3-0, 5-0)
In recent years, this game had major title implications, but the Blue Jays have dropped four in a row since its season-opening win at Hampden-Sydney to take some of the luster off the game. In fairness, Hopkins' first seven opponents have a combined 27-6 record. It is the 61st meeting between the two schools with JHU holding a slim 29-27-4 advantage. Dickinson QB Ian Mitchell has completed nearly 63 percent of his passes and his offense has converted 41.8 percent of all third-down opportunities. Hopkins RB Andrew Kase has back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances.

Gettysburg (2-1, 3-2) at Moravian (2-1, 4-1)
The top two offenses in the Conference meet in Bethlehem, as the Bullets average 404 yards per game while the Greyhounds post 373 per contest. A Gettysburg win would give coach Barry Streeter a Conference-record 78th Centennial victory. Bullet RB Tom Sturges is fourth on the school's career rushing list with 3,441 yards. Moravian PK Brian Reckenbeil became the school's all-time kick scoring leader (133) last week vs. Dickinson. The 'Hounds have turned the ball over 12 times in their last three games. Injuries look to sideline Moravian RBs Tyler McCambridge and Tyler deRouen this week.

Franklin & Marshall (1-1, 1-3) at Ursinus (1-1, 3-1)
One of the oldest series in Conference history, the Diplomats and the Bears renew acquaintances for the 89th time since 1894. F&M has a commanding 60-24-4 lead in the series. Diplomat QB Kyle Turner (pictured) leads the CC in passing yards (255.0) and total offense (269.0), while WR George Eager has three consecutive 10+ catch games. They'll keep Bear DB Chris Frank busy - he is third in the Conference in tackles (9.8).

Muhlenberg (2-0, 4-0) at Juniata (0-3, 0-4)
The two teams meet for the first time since 1931 with the Eagles looking to defeat the Mules for the first time in three games. Juniata leads the CC in passing offense, led by QB Jay Leonard who had thrown for over 200 yards in four consecutive games before having his streak snapped by McDaniel last week. The Eagle defense leads the Conference in red-zone defense, surrendering points on just 42 percent of opposition trips inside the 20. Muhlenberg continues to lead the CC in most every significant defensive category, including pass defense. RB John DeLuca ran for a career-high 131 yards last weekend vs. Johns Hopkins.

NCAA Statistical Leaders (top 20)
Total Defense: 5. Muhlenberg, 191.5
Rushing Defense: 18. Muhlenberg, 70.0
Pass Efficiency Defense: 11. Muhlenberg, 79.1
Scoring Defense: 8. Muhlenberg, 8.5
Turnover Margin: 19. Muhlenberg, 1.8
Pass Sacks Allowed: 15. Gettysburg, 1.0
Turnovers Gained: 17. Moravian, 15.0

Rushing Yards per Game: 10. Tom Sturges, Gettysburg, 139.4
Passing Efficiency: 13. Marc Braxmeier, Moravian, 168.6
Receptions per Game: 6. George Eager, Franklin & Marshall, 9.8; 19. Lance Tippett, Juniata, 7.5
Receiving Yards per Game: 20. Lance Tippett, Juniata, 115.0
Kickoff Returns: 6. Ryan Van Wright, Ursinus, 34.0
Field Goals per Game: 6. Brian Reckenbeil, Moravian, 1.6
Interceptions: T20. Dan Aitkens, Muhlenberg; David Mazzola, Muhlenberg, 0.8
Total Tackles: 9. Eric Dube, Dickinson, 14.2
Solo Tackles: T17. Josh Roy, Juniata; Chris Frank, Ursinus, 7.0
Pass Sacks: 17. Chris Musselman, Muhlenberg, 1.3
Tackles for Loss: 20. Chris Frank, Ursinus, 2.3
Forced Fumbles: 1. Andrew Morrissey, Moravian, 0.8; 13. Kevin McGorry, Moravian, 0.6; T18. Zach Romash, Franklin & Marshall, Jayson Williams, Moravian, 0.4
Passes Defended: 12. Ryan Heinig, Dickinson, 2.0

Five-Star Matchups

pictured: Muhlenberg's Lauren Rutt

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Ursinus at Franklin & Marshall (Field Hockey)
The second-ranked Bears (4-0, 8-1) travel to Lancaster to take on the 20th ranked Diplomats (3-1, 7-3), looking to extend their 44-game regular-season Conference winning streak. Ursinus has won all five meetings with F&M, but three of them have been decided by a single goal.

McDaniel at Muhlenberg (Field Hockey)
The Green Terror (5-6, 3-1) and the Mules (4-0, 8-3) meet in a critical Conference match between a pair of teams that reached the Centennial semis last season. One thing is fairly certain ... the winning team should score two goals. Seven of the last eight winners have scored twice with both teams scoring two times in the eighth game that was finally decided by a third tally in overtime. Muhlenberg leads the series, 8-6, since 1993.

Dickinson at Johns Hopkins (Men's Soccer)
The Red Devils (1-1-2, 8-1-2) come calling to historic Homewood Field looking to put a dent in the Blue Jays' (4-0, 11-0) unbeaten season. It is the 43rd meeting between the two sides with Hopkins winning the last 13 matches to seize a 28-11-3 advantage in the series. Dickinson's last win was a 4-1 triumph in Carlisle in 1993. JHU is unbeaten at Homewood in its last 25 matches.

Gettysburg at Moravian (Football)
The two top ranked offenses in the Conference meet in Bethlehem on Saturday as the Bullets (2-1, 3-2) and the Greyhounds (2-1, 4-1) meet for the first time since 1982. Gettysburg has not won three straight road games since the 2001 and 2002 campaigns and a victory would give Barry Streeter his 78th Centennial coaching victory, breaking the record he shares with Franklin & Marshall's Tom Gilburg. Moravian looks for its second victory against the Bullets in six tries and first since the inaugural meeting in 1978 (17-7).

Five-Star Matchups

Ursinus at Haverford (Women's Soccer)
The first-place Bears (4-0, 7-1-1) make the short hop to Haverford to face the Fords (2-1, 5-4) in a key CC showdown. Ursinus knocked off perennial power Gettysburg last weekend, while Haverford toppled defending CC champion Johns Hopkins. The Fords hold an 8-1-1 all-time lead over the Bears including wins in the last two matches. Ursinus' lone win came in 2003 (2-1) at home. The Bears lead the Conference in scoring (3.11 goals per game), led by Jess Gunzelman with five. Haverford GK Lindsay Festa is tied for the CC lead in shutouts (5).

Johns Hopkins at Swarthmore (Women's Soccer)
The Blue Jays (2-1, 6-4-1) and the 18th ranked Garnet (3-0, 7-0) meet in a rematch of the 2006 Centennial title match under the lights at Clothier Field. Hopkins is 13-1-1 against Swarthmore since 1993, including four straight victories. The Garnet's triumph was a 2-1 overtime win at home in 2003. Swarthmore leads the Conference in goals allowed (1) and GK Lauren Walker shares the CC lead in shutouts (5). Hopkins' Kim Lane is second in the CC in assists (7).

D1 vs. D3 Expenditures

The gulf between high-powered "play-for-pay" scholarship athletics and Division III will never seem wider than it will after you read this series in the Austin American-Statesmen.

"This year, the University of Texas athletics department will for the first time spend more than $100 million. That's double the amount of just six years ago. Since 2000, sports expenses have grown twice as fast as UT spending overall ... At the same time, UT has made a deliberate decision to limit the intercollegiate sports it supports. Ohio State University's athletic department also spends about $100 million per year on sports. But the Buckeyes have twice as many teams as the University of Texas, which has one full time athletic department employee for every two student-athletes."