Five-Star Matchups

No kidding around as we enter the first weekend of April with games that will impact the playoff chase at the end of the month.

Haverford at Dickinson (Men's Lacrosse)
One of the most anticipated games of the season takes place in Carlisle between the ninth ranked Fords (2-1 CC, 7-2) and the 11th ranked Red Devils (2-0, 8-1). It is the 40th time that the two schools have met with Haverford holding a 24-15 series advantage, including wins in the last two meetings. Expect a close game, as five of the last seven contests have been decided by two or fewer goals, including a 12-11 overtime win by the Fords in the 2010 CC semifinals. Devil first-year Brian Cannon leads the Centennial in scoring (22-21-43), while Haverford netminder Joe Banno tops the Conference in save percentage (.650).

Haverford at Dickinson (Men's Tennis)
The Fords (3-0, 3-5) bring their unbeaten Conference record to Carlisle to take on the Red Devils (2-1, 6-3), whose lone loss came at the hands of nationally-ranked Johns Hopkins. The match could be determined at No. 1 singles, as Haverford's Kevin Caulfield (7-2), ranked 12th regionally, takes on Dickinson's Ross Anstaett (11-3)

Johns Hopkins at Franklin & Marshall (Baseball)
The Blue Jays (3-0, 10-6), the lone unbeaten in the Conference entering Friday's play, travel to Lancaster to take on the second-place Diplomats (2-1, 10-10). Hopkins is second in the Centennial with a 3.78 team ERA and are slated to throw Sam Eagleson and Alex Eliopoulos (4-1, 1.35). F&M's Eric Bornstein is 10th in the CC with a .393 batting average. This is the 82nd and 83rd times that the schools have met since 1889 with JHU holding a 51-29-1 series lead, including wins in the last eight games.

New Jersey at Gettysburg
Gettysburg at Swarthmore (Women's Lacrosse)
The Bullets (3-0, 6-1) face two major challenges on back-to-back days this weekend, taking on the top-ranked Lions on Friday and the resurgent Garnet (2-1, 6-2) on Saturday. Gettysburg has played the #1 team in the country six times since 2004 but has yet to come away with a victory. The Bullets have won 16 straight games against Swarthmore since a 12-7 defeat in 1994 at the Battlefield and hold a 21-3 all-time series advantage. The Garnet's Annalise Penikis leads all Centennial players with 34 goals, 18 assists, 52 points and 29 draw controls, while Gettysburg's Lindsey Robinson has 16-15-31 to place sixth in the CC in scoring. 'Burg's Becky Lutz, who leads the Conference in caused turnovers (25), should draw the defensive assignment on Penikis.

Muhlenberg at Washington College (Softball)
Two of the top teams in the Conference square off in Chestertown in a twinbill. The Mules (2-0, 11-8) are the lone remaining CC unbeaten, while the Shorewomen (3-1, 11-9) are a game off the pace in the Centennial standings. Ashley Brewer is a dual threat for 'Berg with a .433 average at the dish and a 5-3 record with a 2.50 ERA on the mound. Lauren Dockrill leads Washington with a .468 average - good for fourth in the Conference.

Muhlenberg at Washington College (Women's Tennis)
The unbeaten Shorewomen (4-0, 9-0) face a major challenge to their unblemished record when the Mules (3-1, 5-2) come calling on Saturday. Washington's lineup has a powerful 1-2-3 at the top of the ladder in Amanda Bercovici (12-1), Jordan Finnegan (10-1) and Brittany Marshall (10-1), while Muhlenberg's counters with Caitie Druker (5-2) and Sara Sutker (6-1) at the top two spots.