Five-Star Matchups 10/22

There are just 10 days left to the regular season in field hockey, soccer and volleyball with playoff berths to be earned. There are key games today at many locales around the Conference ... hope to see you there!

McDaniel at Gettysburg (Field Hockey)
The two teams tied for third place in the Conference square off in their traditional rivalry this afternoon at the Battlefield. This is the 39th time that the two schools have met in field hockey with Gettysburg (4-2 CC, 9-5) holding a 27-6-5 advantage, although McDaniel (4-2, 7-7) captured the last meeting in PA by a 3-0 count. The winner has a leg up on a first-round bye in the upcoming tournament, while the loser will drop into a three-way deadlock for fourth place. Will the Terror be able to slow down the Bullets' tremendous trio of Emily Harwood, Savannah Ruth and Lexie Hearn - each who have scored 10 times on the season?

Washington at Haverford (Field Hockey)
The Shorewomen (4-3, 9-4) come north to the Main Line to take on the Fords (3-3, 7-7) in a game with serious playoff implications. Washington has dropped three since opening the season at 9-1. Granted, all three losses have come to ranked teams - Hopkins, Ursinus and Gettysburg - so Washington looks to right the ship today. Haverford has won the last two meetings, including a wild 7-5 shootout last season on the Shore. Shorewomen netminder Elena Nicholoff (86.6 save%, 4 shutouts) will be challenged by Haverford's dynamic scoring duo of Josie Ferri (11-6-28) and Margaret Selsor (11-2-24).

Dickinson at Franklin & Marshall (Women's Soccer)
The Red Devils (4-2, 8-3-2) and the Diplomats (4-3, 8-4) meet for the 26th time in their long rivalry with F&M looking to end a four-game Dickinson win streak. The Diplomats have not won in Lancaster since 2002 - also the last time that the Blue and White has scored a goal against the Devils. Two of the Centennial's top point producers will be on display in F&M's Danielle David (8-1-17) and Dickinson's Sarah Casey (8-0-16). Five of Casey's tallies this season have been game-winners.

Swarthmore at Ursinus (Women's Soccer)
It's a showdown for second place in the CC as the Garnet (4-1-1, 8-3-1) and the Bears (5-2, 6-6-1) meet in a rematch of their 2007 CC semifinal contest. Ursinus has won all five previous matches in Collegeville, although Swarthmore blanked UC, 4-0, last season at Clothier Field. The Bears gained their revenge, ousting the Garnet from the CC tourney in penalty kicks. Two of the Centennial's top keepers meet today in UC's Lisa Clark (85.0 save pct., 6 shutouts) and Swat's Lauren Walker (84.6, 4).

Dickinson at Franklin & Marshall (Volleyball)
The Red Devils (5-1, 10-10) and the Diplomats (3-3, 8-15) meet in their annual rivalry tonight in Lancaster in what could be called a must-win for the Blue and White. F&M is in a three-way tie for fourth place, while Dickinson is in a three-way tie for second position, a half-game behind front-running Haverford. It is the 42nd meeting between the two schools with the Dips holding a 34-6-1 advantage.

McDaniel at Gettysburg (Volleyball)
The Green Terror (3-3, 10-14) and the Bullets (5-1, 13-10) meet for the 65th time in a series that began in 1976. McDaniel holds a 41-23 advantage, but Gettysburg has won 14 of the last 16 matches and has not lost to the Terror at home since the inception of the CC. McDaniel is part of that three-way tie for fourth place in the Conference, while Gettysburg is one of the three teams that are tied for second place. Expect a long night at Bream, as the last three matches have all gone five sets. The Terror's Taylor Herrgott leads the Centennial in hitting percentage (.326), while the Bullets' Kristin Kotewicz tops the CC in digs (4.68).