Five-Star Matchups

For a first weekend of Conference play in soccer and field hockey, we sure have some great matchups that will set the tone for the 2009 Centennial season.

Gettysburg at Johns Hopkins (Field Hockey)
The 11th ranked Bullets (5-0) travel to Baltimore to take on the eighth-ranked Blue Jays (4-1) in the Centennial opener for both teams. Hopkins has won four straight in the series, including a 2-0 win in last fall's CC semifinals, to take an 11-9 overall lead. Gettysburg is just 2-7 vs. Hop at Homewood since 1993. Two of the top goalkeepers in the Conference may determine the outcome in this one - Gettysburg's Christina Anderson leads the CC in goals-against average (0.25), while Hopkins' Sophia Tieu is second (0.27).

Dickinson at Franklin & Marshall (Football)
Where do we begin? These two teams are the only unbeatens remaining in the Conference at 2-0. The last time they both were undefeated entering their annual matchup was 1989 - F&M was 4-0 while Dickinson was 3-0-1. It's the longest-running rivalry among Centennial teams, as the Devils and the Diplomats square off for the 101st time. Oh yeah, they also play for one of the cooler trophies in college sports - the Conestoga Wagon Trophy (see above). Two of the Centennial's top QBs meet in Dickinson's Ian Mitchell and F&M's John Harrison. But keep an eye on this matchup - Red Devil WR Pat O'Connor and Diplomat CB Barry Lovett - a pair of first-team All-CC selections from 2008.

Dickinson at Swarthmore (Women's Soccer)
For the first time in Conference history. two ranked Centennial teams will square off on the pitch as #15 Swarthmore (5-1) plays host to #25 Dickinson (6-0) on Saturday in the CC opener for both teams. It is a rematch of the 2008 Centennial semifinal in which the Red Devils bested the Garnet, 2-1. The two teams have split eight contests at Swarthmore's Clothier Field since 1993. Dickinson tied a school and Conference record with its sixth consecutive shutout in a 2-0 win vs. Immaculata on Wednesday. The Devils' Hannah Richardson leads the CC with seven goals, while Swat's Julia Luongo is third with four tallies.