Five-Star Matchups 10/25

It's the penultimate weekend in field hockey, soccer and volleyball around the Conference and every match has playoff implications. There are a number of "do or die" around the Centennial on what promises to be a wet Saturday. Still hope to see you out supporting your favorite team(s)!

Haverford at Dickinson (Field Hockey)
Since the current five-team playoff format was instituted in 2004, a 6-4 Conference record has been good enough to get a team into the tournament. In 2008, five teams have three or four CC defeats in a quest to lock up two of the five tournament slots. Two of those teams meet Saturday in Carlisle, as the Red Devils (4-3 CC, 8-6) entertain the Fords (4-3, 8-7). Dickinson has won eight straight games in the series since a 1-0 home loss to Haverford in 1999. Devil keeper Amanda West (82.0 save%) will be tested by the Fords' Josie Ferri (12) and Margaret Selsor (12) who have combined for 24 goals this fall.

Gettysburg at Dickinson (Men's Soccer)
The Bullets (3-2-1, 7-4-3) and the Red Devils (4-2, 10-4) meet in the 68th renewal of their long-time series. Gettysburg holds a 44-19-4 advantage and have not lost in Carlisle since the inception of the Conference in 1993 (7-0-1). Chris Bayon (7) and Geoff Menge (5) lead the Bullet offense in front of GK Jeff Greenlaw, who has an 0.77 goals against average. Zach Pritchard and Ben Gemberling-Johnson share the Devils' team lead with five goals.

Gettysburg at Swarthmore (Women's Soccer)
The Centennial Conference has always been competitive, but 2008 may be the deepest the CC has ever been. Eight teams remain alive for the five playoff berths with six of those sides involved in three key matches Saturday. It is the 22nd meeting between the Bullets (4-3, 5-5-4) and the Garnet (5-1-1, 9-3-1) with Swat looking to cut into G'burg's 17-3-1 series lead. Gettysburg GK Danielle St. Pierre (0.65 GAA) and her defense will look to slow Swat's dynamic duo of Elizabeth Mills (7 goals) and Megan Colombo (6).

Franklin & Marshall at Muhlenberg (Women's Soccer)
The Mules (4-2-1, 9-4-2) welcome the Diplomats (4-3-1, 8-4-1) to Varsity Field, looking to extend their nine-match win streak against F&M. Muhlenberg leads the Centennial in scoring (2.40 goals per game), but Franklin & Marshall's Danielle David (8) and Shannon Summers (7) can also put the ball in the net.

Haverford at Dickinson (Women's Soccer)
The Fords (4-3, 7-8) come calling on the Red Devils (4-2-1, 8-3-3) hoping to continue their recent success in Carlisle. Haverford is 4-1-2 at Dickinson since 1993, but the Devils won the last meeting in 2006 by a 2-1 count. The Devils' Kailyn Hartmann is one of the league's top netminders, posting an 0.55 GAA and an 87.7 save pct.

Haverford at Dickinson (Volleyball)
It's obviously a trend ... another big game between the Fords and the Devils in Carlisle. Haverford (6-1, 18-6) needs a win to keep pace with Hopkins and Gettysburg atop the Conference standings. Dickinson (5-2, 10-11), a game back of the leaders, looks to break a 10-match losing streak to the Fords since a five-set win on the Main Line in 1999. Haverford's dynamic duo of Rebecca and Rachel Salvo are third and fifth, respectively, in the Conference with 3.60 and 3.31 kills per game. Dickinson's Allison Molchany is third in the CC in blocks (0.77).

Franklin & Marshall at Muhlenberg (Volleyball)
The Diplomats (4-3, 9-15) and the Mules (4-3, 16-8) meet in what could be an elimination match in terms of the CC playoffs. The two teams are tied for the fifth and final playoff spot and the winner will hold the tie-breaker with two matches remaining. F&M has won 15 of the last 16 meetings with Muhlenberg, including four straight. 'Berg's only win during the stretch with a five-set triumph in 2003 in Lancaster. Two of the Conference's top young players - the Dips' Nicole Morano (.244 hitting pct.) and the Mules' Jackie Price (.227) - will be on display.