Five-Star Matchups

Lancaster is the place to be on Wednesday as five of our nine featured games take place on the Franklin & Marshall campus. The women's lacrosse game between the Diplomats and Gettysburg will determine the top seed for next week's championship tournament, while the other eight games have playoff implications.

Gettysburg at Franklin & Marshall (Women's Lacrosse)
The Conference's best rivalry takes center stage on Wednesday night as the sixth-ranked Bullets (7-0 CC, 12-2) and seventh-ranked Diplomats (7-0, 13-2) meet with first place on the line. This is the 49th meeting between the two schools with F&M holding a 25-22-1 advantage, including wins in eight of the last nine contests. Gettysburg's last win in Lancaster was in the 2005 Centennial title game (11-9). This will be the 13th consecutive game in the series in which both the Bullets and Diplomats are ranked in the national top 10. The top two goalkeepers in the CC will play a major role tonight as Gettysburg's Maddie Coleman has a 58.6 save percentage, while F&M's Kelsey Hoffman has a 6.72 goals-against average.

Ursinus at Haverford (Women's Lacrosse)
While first place is on the line in Lancaster, a first-round tournament bye could be up for grabs when the Bears (4-3, 6-8) and the Fords (5-2, 9-5) square off on the Main Line. Ursinus has a 16-1 advantage in the series since 1994, but Haverford's only win came in the last meeting at Swan Field in 2009 (18-16). The Fords' Josie Ferri is the third-leading scorer in the Conference with 45-20-65, while the Bears' Alyssa Thren is one of five 40-goal scorers in the CC (40-5-45).

Gettysburg at Franklin & Marshall (Men's Lacrosse)
Two teams fighting for their playoff lives meet in Lancaster as the 20th ranked Bullets (4-2, 8-5) visit the Diplomats (3-3, 8-4). A victory would clinch a playoff berth for Gettysburg, while a win would bolster F&M's hopes for its first CC playoff bid since 2005. It is the 54th time that the two schools have met with Gettysburg holding a 33-20 advantage, including victories in seven of the last eight games. The Diplomats' last win was an 11-9 home win in 2008. Gettysburg leads the Centennial in scoring defense (6.73), led by GK J.T. McCook. F&M is second in scoring offense (9.92), led by Billy Kempner (23-15-38).

Haverford at Ursinus (Men's Lacrosse)
Another tussle for playoff positioning takes place in Collegeville as the 12th ranked Fords (4-2, 9-3) take on the Bears (3-3, 8-4). Haverford has won six straight in the series and holds an 8-1 all-time lead. Ursinus' only win was a 10-9 triumph on the Main Line in 2004. The teams have two of the stingiest defenses in the Conference, as the Fords and Bears allow just 6.91 and 6.92 goals-against per game, respectively. Ursinus M Jeff Ocampo leads the Centennial with 32 goals, while Haverford GK Joe Banno has turned away a CC-best 66.8 percent of shots on net.

Gettysburg at Franklin & Marshall (Softball)
It could almost be described as a playoff doubleheader as the Bullets (6-6, 16-14) travel to Amish Country to take on the Diplomats (6-5, 20-10-1). Neither team can really afford a loss and a sweep could be devastating to tournament hopes. The teams are 1-2 in the CC in batting average with F&M hitting .350 and Gettysburg .326. The Diplomats' Malorie Sassaman leads the Conference at .477, while the Bullets' Maggie Maguire has a Centennial-best seven round-trippers.

Haverford at Franklin & Marshall (Baseball)
The first-place Fords (11-3, 26-5) travel to take on the third-place Diplomats (10-4, 18-13) in the first of a two-game weekday set. It is the 70th time that the teams have met on the diamond with F&M holding a 46-22-1 advantage in the series. Haverford has taken the last two tilts at Kaplan Field, winning 12-10 in 2009 and 5-4 a year ago. The Fords lead the Centennial with a 3.29 team ERA, while SS Charlie Carluccio tops the circuit with a .411 batting average. Diplomat counterpart Matt Will leads his club with a .386 average. Probables: Dan Hochberg (3-0, 3.71) for the Fords and Mike Duranti (4-2, 3.35) for the Diplomats.

Washington College at Johns Hopkins (Baseball)
The Blue Jays (11-3, 18-11), tied for first place with Haverford, will have a major say on the playoff picture over the next week and begin today against the Shoremen (7-7, 16-14). Not only will Hopkins battle the Fords and F&M for the top seed in next weekend's tournament, JHU also closes the season with a single game against Washington and a twinbill vs. Muhlenberg - two teams battling Swarthmore for the final playoff spot. The Jays have won 12 straight against the Shoremen and hold a 75-32 all-time edge in the series that started in 1887. Washington's last win was a 15-5 triumph in 2005 in Chestertown, while the Chestertown nine has not returned home victorious from Baltimore since 1997 (9-5). Hopkins C Joe Borrelli is the reigning CC Player of the Week. Probables: Joe Kearney-Argow (3-3, 5.74) for the Shoremen and Kevin Gillen (3-0, 4.67) for the Jays.

Washington College at Swarthmore (Men's Tennis)
It's a critical match for playoff seeding when the Shoremen (5-2, 9-5) visit the banks of Crum Creek to take on the Garnet (6-1, 10-6). A Swarthmore victory could lock up a first-round tournament bye, while a Washington win would secure a playoff berth. The Shoremen's Adam Cranford is fourth in the CC with 13 singles wins (13-4) on the year, while the Garnet's No. 3 doubles team of Anthony Collard and Seth Udelson is fourth among all CC tandems with a 77.8 winning percentage (7-2).

Gettysburg at Franklin & Marshall (Men's Tennis)
Simply put, this is a playoff match for the Bullets (3-4, 10-4) who must win to keep their flickering tournament hopes alive. A Gettysburg loss and the five CC playoff teams are set and the Diplomats (5-2, 9-5) remain in the hunt for a first-round bye. The match at No. 1 singles between the Bullets' Chris Curran (9-8) and the Dips' Ross Silverberg (13-4) could go a long way to determining the outcome of the match.

Five-Star Matchups

Although Saturday will certainly determine the final seeds for next weekend's basketball championship tournaments, tonight may be even more important for the teams involved in the chase.

Can't make it out to a game tonight? Enjoy all the action on your computer at the Conference's "C-Zone" - our one-stop channel. We'll have cameras at all five venues and you can also join in the conversation on our live blog or on Twitter. Be part of the action!

Washington College at Ursinus (Women's Basketball)
Two of the four teams competing for the two remaining berths in the playoff field square off in Collegeville tonight. The Shorewomen (9-9 CC, 11-12) won the first meeting in Chestertown by a 49-41 count and have won four of the last five from the Bears (10-8, 14-9). The last time Ursinus won as many as 14 games in a season was 2007 (19-10), also the last time UC won the Centennial title. Washington has not qualified for the Conference tournament since 1999.

Johns Hopkins at Franklin & Marshall (Women's Basketball)
The Blue Jays (16-3, 19-4) bring down the curtain on their regular-season schedule with a trip to Lancaster to face the Diplomats (10-8, 12-11). Hopkins won the year's first tilt (57-49) and look to improve their 13-5 record at Mayser since 1994. In fact, F&M has won just once in the last seven games vs. Hop at home (2008, 73-71). The Diplomats are tied with Ursinus for fourth place in the CC and hold a one-game lead over Swarthmore and Washington in the playoff chase.

Haverford at Muhlenberg (Men's Basketball)
Two of the three teams tied for fifth place in the Centennial meet tonight in what could be a playoff game for both. The Fords (8-8, 11-11) and the Mules (8-8, 12-11), along with Ursinus, are a game behind Gettysburg and McDaniel as the race for the final three tourney berths nears its conclusion. Muhlenberg won on the Main Line, 77-69, back in January and has won six of the last seven with Haverford. The Fords have lost six straight at Memorial Hall since a 71-62 triumph in 2005.

Five-Star Matchups

It could be a history-making night in Gettysburg as F&M men's basketball coach Glenn Robinson is on the verge of winning his 800th career game. Only 12 men's basketball coaches all-time have reached the 800-win plateau and a victory in one of his next two games will get Robinson to the plateau faster than such coaches as Bob Knight. But that is not the only milestone that is within reach tonight at Bream Gym, as the Bullets' Andrew Powers is 12 points away from breaking Ron Warner's career scoring record at the school that has stood for nearly a half-century.

Read more about Robinson's career in articles by Adam Himmelsbach of the New York Times and Mike Jensen of the Philadelphia Inquirer. More on Robinson from WGAL-8 and WHP-21 can be found below. Read more about Powers' run to the record in this Gettysburg Times story.

Franklin & Marshall at Gettysburg (Men's Basketball)
This is the 204th time that the Diplomats (12-2, 17-4) and the Bullets (8-6, 11-10) have met on the hardwood since 1902 with Gettysburg holding a 108-95 advantage. Franklin & Marshall has won four straight in the series, but have only won once in its last four trips to Bream Gym. The storylines for tonight's game not only involve Robinson and Powers, but also the playoff hopes for both teams. F&M can clinch the top seed for the Centennial tournament with a win and a Dickinson loss, while Gettysburg needs a win to keep pace with the Devils and three other teams in chase for a tourney berth.

Dickinson at Muhlenberg (Men's Basketball)
The Red Devils (9-5, 11-10) can make some history of their own tonight in Allentown against the Mules (8-6, 12-9). Dickinson has never won more than nine Centennial games in a season and has not swept 'Berg in a season series since its MAC days. But Memorial Hall has not been kind to the Red and White, who has not won there since 2003 (0-7). It is the 80th meeting in the series and Muhlenberg holds a slender 41-39 edge.

Swarthmore at Washington College (Women's Basketball)
Speaking of uncharted waters, the Shorewomen (8-7, 10-10) have won four straight Conference games for the first time since 1999 and find themselves in the hunt for their first playoff berth since that same season. The Garnet (8-8, 12-9) have taken 18 of the last 21 games from Washington and needs a win to avoid falling two games back of WAC in the playoff chase. Watch the inside battle between the Shorewomen's Latisha Pledger and Swarthmore's Kathryn Stockbower.

Franklin & Marshall at Gettysburg (Women's Basketball)
The Diplomats (9-7, 11-10) and the Bullets (11-5, 16-5) renew acquaintances for the 65th time since 1975 with F&M looking for its second season sweep in three seasons. Gettysburg is 8-2 in its last 10 games and can move one step closer to a first-round tourney bye with a victory. Franklin & Marshall needs a win to keep pace with its three rivals - Ursinus, Swarthmore and Washington - for one of the final two playoff spots.

VIDEO LINKS
WGAL
WHP

Last Night's aCCtion

Josh Land of the Carroll County Times writes that there is a noticeable change in attitude around the locker room after McDaniel won its third straight game with a 54-45 win over Ursinus.

Land also writes that the Green Terror women shook off an historic loss with a 62-54 win against Washington College.

Roundups
Annapolis Capital, Philadelphia Inquirer.

Last Night's aCCtion

Jeffrey Kauffman of The Sentinel writes that Thanksgiving Week games can be a coach's nightmare, as shown by Dickinson's loss to the Swarthmore women in Carlisle last night.

Josh Land of the Carroll County Times writes that the McDaniel women's basketball team is not taking comfort in small incremental improvements after last night's loss to Ursinus.

Bad news for Centennial men's basketball teams. Ed Gruver of the Lancaster Newspapers writes that Franklin & Marshall has a long memory and exacted some revenge against Washington College last night.

Roundup: Harrisburg Patriot-News, Carroll County Times, Gettysburg Times 1, Gettysburg Times 2, Baltimore Sun,

Five-Star Matchups

It's Tournament Time! Today's the day that most folks describe as the "play-in" game. They would be mistaken. Today is the first-round game and I would venture to guess that most of the athletes playing in the matches would agree. So nomenclature aside, here is what to watch for on First-Round Wednesday. Can't make it to a site ... watch LIVE via streaming video! Or get up-to-the-minute updates via Twitter.

Washington College at Gettysburg (Field Hockey)
The Shorewomen (8-9) travel to the Battlefield to take on the Bullets (9-8) in a first-round game for the right to move into the semifinals opposite top-seeded Ursinus on Saturday. Washington won the regular-season meeting on Oct. 16 by a 3-1 count, defeating the Orange and Blue for the first time since 2003. GK Shannon Davis made a career-high 12 saves, while D Brittany Palasik scored a goal and set a Conference record with her 15th defensive save of the season. The Shorewomen, who trail in the overall series, 14-5, have not won at Gettysburg since the 2000 season. Emily Trees (9-4-22) and Gussie Reilly (8-7-23) make a potent 1-2 combo for Washington, while the Bullets look to Sarah Cole (7-3-17) who also has three game-winning goals on the season. Watch LIVE.

Ursinus at Gettysburg (Women's Soccer)
The Battlefield is the place to be on Wednesday with two first-round Conference playoff games. The nightcap pits the Bears (10-6) and the Bullets (12-6) in a rematch of the Oct. 2 match won by Gettysburg, 1-0. Freshman Rachel West scored the match's lone goal in the 62nd minute and GK Allie Rivera made it stand up, making two saves for the shutout. The Orange and Blue is 11-3-3 overall in the series, but the teams have split their two playoff meetings - 2004 (Gettysburg, 1-0) and 2005 (Ursinus, 1-1, 2-0). Ursinus looks to Jess Porcelan (7-3-17) on offense, while the Bullets are led by Casey Attanasio (8-4-20). Watch LIVE.

Gettysburg at Johns Hopkins (Men's Soccer)
The Bullets (5-9-2) and the Blue Jays (12-3-3) meet for the 76th time in their long-standing series and the seventh time in Centennial playoff action. Hopkins holds a 45-21-9 series lead, after a 1-0 victory on Oct. 27 on a goal by Scott Bukoski. JHU outshot Gettysburg, 23-10, in that contest. Gettysburg's last playoff triumph was in 2005, downing the Jays in penalties. Eric Hynes leads the Bullets in scoring (5-1-11) and has three game-winning goals. Sean Coleman leads Hopkins with 10 goals and an assist for 21 points. Watch LIVE.

Gettysburg at Swarthmore (Volleyball)
The Bullets (16-13) and the Garnet (17-10) square off for the right to take on top-seeded Haverford in the semifinals this weekend on the Main Line. Gettysburg is one of the perennial powers in the Conference with seven titles and 13 appearances in 13 years of the Conference tournament. Swarthmore makes its third trip to the Centennial playoffs. The Garnet won its first-ever match against the Bullets in 29 tries back on Oct. 23, winning in straight sets, as Kathryn Montemurro had 15 kills. Montemurro is second in the CC in hitting percentage (.315), while Gettysburg's Nicole Burns is third at .312. Watch LIVE.

Five-Star Matchups

Here it is - the first of two fall Championship Weekends. We kick things off Saturday with the annual Cross Country championship, hosted by Johns Hopkins in Elkridge, Md. Then we turn our focus to the final day of the regular season in field hockey, soccer and volleyball. One final four site is up for grabs, while spots in three of the four sports are still available with one game remaining. Sets the stage for a great weekend ... follow the latest news by following us on Twitter. Our feed also posts directly to the Conference website home page.

Ursinus at Johns Hopkins (Women's Soccer), Friday, 7 p.m.
The Bears (6-3, 10-5) need a win over the 13th ranked Blue Jays (7-2, 14-3) to clinch a playoff berth. Simple really, just beat Hopkins for the first time ever (0-13-2), while also defeating your first-ever ranked opponent. That said, Ursinus is one of the hottest teams in the Conference, riding a six-match win streak.

Dickinson at Franklin & Marshall (Men's Soccer), Friday, 7:30 p.m.
There are seven teams battling for four playoff berths with one game remaining, so each weekend match takes on a playoff atmosphere. The Red Devils (4-2-2, 10-3-3) and the Diplomats (4-1-3, 8-3-3) meet for the 60th time in their long-running series (1931) with F&M holding a 33-19-7 advantage. Dickinson is 3-0-2 in the last five contests since a 2-1 Diplomat win at home in 2005. That was the last year that the Blue and White scored a goal against the Devils. Winner is in the tournament. Watch LIVE.

Swarthmore at Franklin & Marshall (Volleyball), 12 p.m.
Although both teams are in the five-team postseason field, the winner of the match secures a first-round bye for the tourney. The Diplomats (7-2, 19-6) hold a 33-4 all-time advantage in the series against the Garnet (7-2, 17-9), including 21 straight matches. Swarthmore's last victory came in 1989.

Muhlenberg at Gettysburg (Women's Soccer), 1 p.m.
This match looks and feels like a first-round playoff match, as the winner is in the field, while the loser is most likely out. The Bullets (6-3, 11-6) lead the all-time series, 12-7-2, but the Mules (6-3, 7-7-2) are 3-0-1 in the last four. Watch LIVE.

Dickinson at Washington (Field Hockey), 1 p.m.
The Shorewomen (5-4, 7-9) can clinch the last remaining playoff berth with a win at home against the Red Devils (2-7, 3-13). A Washington loss opens the door for McDaniel (4-5, 7-9) to take the final spot with a win at Haverford (7-2, 12-4). Dickinson has not won in Chestertown since 1995 - a streak of seven games.

Ursinus at Johns Hopkins (Field Hockey), 5 p.m.
The last remaining final four site is up for grabs Saturday evening in Baltimore as the third-ranked Bears (9-0 CC, 15-1) visit the Blue Jays (8-1, 11-5). The winner hosts the final four next weekend ... pretty simple. Ursinus is 13-1 all-time against Hopkins, but that one time was memorable, as JHU knocked off the Bears in Collegeville in the 2003 CC semifinals. Ursinus has won 34 consecutive Centennial regular-season games since a 3-2 loss at F&M on Oct. 6, 2007.

Haverford at Swarthmore (Men's Soccer), 7 p.m.
At kick-off, we'll know the playoff situation. The Garnet (6-0-2, 13-1-2) already know its fate and will host the final four next weekend. The Fords (4-3-1, 8-5-2) need a victory to have a chance for its first-ever CC tourney appearance ... a tie will leave Haverford on the outside looking in. This match is one of the oldest rivalries in all of collegiate soccer, meeting for the 88th time since 1921. Swarthmore has won six in a row to narrow its series deficit to 43-36-8. The Fords' last win along Crum Creek - 2002 (1-0). Watch LIVE.

Five-Star Matchups

Just three weekends left in the fall regular season in the Conference and the games just keep getting bigger and bigger. That's why we're here - to highlight the key contests. Hope to see you at a Centennial venue on this windy weekend.

Franklin & Marshall at Haverford (Volleyball)
The Diplomats (5-1 CC, 16-5) and the Fords (4-0, 11-12) meet in a match that could decide homecourt for the upcoming Conference tournament in three weeks. F&M holds a 20-7 all-time lead in the series, but Haverford - the four-time defending Centennial champ - has won four of the last six, including two in a row. Four of the CC's top hitters - F&M's Sydney Seydel (.348) and Candice Tussing (.244) and Haverford's Olivia Coburn-Flynn (.247) and Jenine Abbassi (.236) will be on display. Setting them will be the Conference's top two assisters - Kate Comey of the Fords (9.94) and Pam Horner of the Diplomats (9.48).

Gettysburg at Washington (Field Hockey)
The Bullets (3-2, 5-7) and the Shorewomen (3-2, 5-7) are two of the four teams tied for third place in a Conference that sends five to the playoffs. Gettysburg has taken six straight in the series and holds a 14-4 overall lead. Washington's last win was a home victory in 2003 (2-1). The Bullets are fourth in the CC in scoring offense (2.49), while the Shorewomen are third in goals-against average (1.94). Emily Trees leads Washington with seven goals, while Sarah Cole has six for Gettysburg.

Dickinson at Haverford (Men's Soccer)
There are eight teams fighting for five playoff spots in the Conference and the Red Devils (2-2-1, 8-3-2) and the Fords (3-1-1, 7-3-2) are two of them. It is the 36th time that the two schools will meet on the pitch with Haverford holding a slim 16-15-4 series advantage. Dickinson has won six straight since a 3-1 loss in Carlisle in 2003. The Fords have not defeated the Devils at Walton Field since 2000 (3-0). Dickinson GK Cody Hickok is third in the CC in save percentage (.841) and fourth in goals-against average (0.59). Alejandro Rettig y Martinez is fifth in the Conference in scoring, leading the Fords with 6-3-15.

Johns Hopkins at Muhlenberg (Women's Soccer)
The Blue Jays (5-1, 11-2) and the Mules (3-2, 4-6-2) have been two of the most successful programs in Centennial history, combining for 11 Conference championships (JHU-8, MUH-3). Hopkins has won seven of the last eight matches and holds a 13-7-1 all-time lead. Muhlenberg broke a seven-game losing skid to Hop with a victory last season in Baltimore, but has not won at home since 2003 (2-0). The Mules' Meghan O'Grady leads the Conference in scoring (9-2-20). Four JHU players share the team lead in goals with six - Paulina Goodman, Allie Zazzali, Christina Convey and Erica Suter.

Five-Star Matchups

Washington College at Johns Hopkins (Field Hockey)
Two of the top challengers for six-time defending champ Ursinus square off at Homewood Field this afternoon as the Shorewomen (3-0 CC, 5-5) take on the Blue Jays (3-1, 5-4). This is the 27th time that the two teams have met since 1985 with Hopkins winning four straight to take a 17-9 advantage. Washington's last win was a 2-0 shutout victory in Baltimore in 2005. The Shorewomen are led by the 1-2 combo of Emily Trees (6-2-14) and Gussie Reilly (5-4-14), while defender Brittany Palasik has a CC-leading 12 defensive saves. Hopkins GK Kim Stein leads all Centennial 'keepers with a 78.2 save percentage, while Carly Bianco leads the offense (7-1-15).

Johns Hopkins at Dickinson (Men's Soccer)
The soccer season reaches its halfway mark on Saturday and the Conference matches begin to take on even more importance. The Blue Jays (1-1-2, 7-2-3), ranked 16th nationally by D3soccer.com, travel to Carlisle to take on the Red Devils (2-1-1, 7-2-2) in a match between teams ranked 5-6 in the Mid-Atlantic region. Hopkins has won 16 of the last 17 matches between the schools and holds a 31-12-3 series lead. Dickinson's only win in the stretch was a 2-1 triumph in Baltimore in 2007 and the Devils have not won at home since 1993 (4-1). Dale Rodman leads the Red and White with 4-5-13, while Sean Coleman has 6-1-13 for JHU.

Johns Hopkins at Gettysburg (Women's Soccer)
Two of the teams tied for first place in the Conference meet on the Battlefield as the Blue Jays (3-1, 9-2) take on the Bullets (3-1, 7-4). Hopkins is ranked ninth by D3soccer.com and 10th by the NSCAA in the most recent poll. The series cannot be any closer than this - 11-11-1 - but the Jays have won five straight since a 2-0 win by Gettysburg in Baltimore in 2005. Hopkins has five players in the top 10 in the Conference in scoring, led by Paulina Goodman's 6-2-14. Bullet netminder Allie Rivera is second in the CC in goals-against average (0.88), trailing only JHU's Kristen Redsun (0.75).

Five-Star Matchups

Welcome back to another season of Five-Star Matchups. For our newcomers ... Five-Star Matchups is our look at the day's key games. These games could have importance on the Conference and/or national level and deserve your attention. As we close out the summer, it's time for Centennial play to begin in most sports and Saturday features some early-season showdowns.

Franklin & Marshall at Washington (Field Hockey)
The Diplomats (1-0 CC, 5-1) and the Shorewomen (1-0, 3-3) meet for the 18th time since 1993 with Washington holding a two-game winning streak and a 10-7 all-time lead in the series. F&M, ranked 17th nationally in the most recent poll, is led by Eileen O'Reilly who has 6-4-16 through six games. Washington GK Shannon Davis is third in the CC with a 1.27 goals-against average. The last time both F&M and Washington made the playoffs in the same season - 2004.

Dickinson at Swarthmore (Men's Soccer)
This is the 22nd time that the Red Devils (1-0, 5-1-1) and Garnet (1-0, 7-0) have met on the pitch since 1993 with Dickinson holding a 13-5-3 advantage. However, the Devils are 0-3-2 in their last six trips to Clothier Field and the two draws ended as postseason defeats in penalties. Swarthmore is ranked fourth in the country by D3soccer.com and fifth by the NSCAA. It is the highest ranking for a Centennial team since Johns Hopkins was second in 2004. The Garnet is also first in the Mid-Atlantic region for the first time in program history. Morgan Langley leads the nation in total assists (7) and assists per game (1.17). Dickinson suffered its first defeat in seven matches with an overtime defeat at #10 Messiah on Wednesday. Javier Mena leads the Devils with five goals.

Gettysburg at Haverford (Women's Soccer)
The Bullets (1-0, 5-2) and the Fords (1-0, 4-2) do battle for the 19th time since 1993 with Gettysburg holding an 11-7 all-time series lead. Haverford has won two straight and three of the last four meetings. Gettysburg's Rachel West leads the Conference with 12 points on four goals and four assists. The stingy Ford defense has surrendered only four goals this season in front of GK Kayleigh Herrick-Reynolds.

Playoff Scenarios

Playoffs! Allen Iverson will always be known for his rant on practice ... Jim Mora will always be known for his rant on the playoffs!

Here are the scenarios for Saturday's Centennial Conference action as it relates to playoff consideration:

BASEBALL
Hopkins is #1 seed; Haverford and Swarthmore are in the tourney.
Muhlenberg is IN with a sweep of Washington; Shoremen are IN with one win vs. Mules.

MEN'S LACROSSE
Gettysburg is #1 seed, Dickinson is #2 seed
Haverford is IN with win vs. Swarthmore and is #3 seed.
McDaniel is IN with win vs. Dickinson.
Loser of Muhlenberg-Ursinus is OUT.

a 4-4 tie between Haverford and Muhlenberg --> Muhlenberg
a 4-4 tie between Haverford and Ursinus --> Haverford
a 4-4 tie between McDaniel, Muhlenberg and/or Ursinus --> McDaniel
a 4-4 tie among Haverford, McDaniel and Ursinus --> Haverford, McDaniel
a 4-4 tie among Haverford, McDaniel and Muhlenberg
* teams are 1-1 vs. each other
* if F&M wins vs. Gettysburg and gains 6th place --> Haverford, McDaniel
* if F&M loses and three teams are tied at 2-6 --> Haverford, McDaniel on goal differential in games between Haverford, McDaniel and Muhlenberg

WOMEN'S LACROSSE
Gettysburg is #1 seed and plays winner of Haverford-Dickinson in semis
Franklin & Marshall is #2 seed and plays #3 seed Ursinus in semis
Haverford is #4 seed and plays host to #5 Dickinson in 1st round

SOFTBALL
Ursinus is #1 seed
Gettysburg, Swarthmore and Dickinson are IN
Dickinson wins all tie-breakers in an 8-8 tie.

MEN'S TENNIS
Johns Hopkins is #1 seed, Swarthmore is IN.
Franklin & Marshall is IN with a win vs. either Muhlenberg or Swarthmore
F&M wins 6-3/5-4 ties with Haverford and Washington
Washington wins 6-3/5-4 ties with Haverford
a 5-4 tie among Dickinson, F&M, Haverford and Washington --> Dickinson, F&M
a 5-4 tie among Dickinson, Haverford and Washington --> depends on final score of Dickinson-Washington match.
Individual matches won in dual-meets between tied teams:
--> Washington 6, Haverford 3
--> Haverford 5, Dickinson 4
--> TOTAL: Haverford 8, Washington 6, Dickinson 4.
--> A Dickinson 5-4 win means Washington is IN. A Dickinson win of 6-3 or greater gives spot to Devils.

WOMEN'S TENNIS
Johns Hopkins is #1 seed, Swarthmore is #2 seed
Dickinson is IN with a win vs. Washington. Haverford is IN and Washington OUT.
Washington is IN with wins vs. Dickinson and McDaniel.
a 7-3 tie between Dickinson and Haverford --> Dickinson
a 7-3 tie between Haverford and Washington --> Haverford
a 7-3 tie among Dickinson, Haverford and Washington --> Washington, Dickinson

Five-Star Matchups

We have arrived! It's the final weekend of regular season play in the Conference and the Centennial championships in eight sports begin next Wednesday. Only softball and women's lacrosse has determined their playoff fields ... so important games are the order of the day on Saturday.

Washington at Muhlenberg (Baseball)
It's playoff baseball at Cedarcreek Field in Allentown on Saturday, as the Shoremen (9-7 CC, 15-12) and the Mules (8-8, 15-17) meet in a twinbill that will determine the fourth and final tournament berth. Washington needs one win to secure its first conference playoff spot since earning a berth in the 1984 Middle Atlantic Conference tournament. Muhlenberg needs a sweep to advance to the Centennial tourney for the fourth time. It's all hands on deck for the pitching staffs. The Shoremen will most likely turn to Shane Mattingly (5-1, 2.11) and Chris Smith (4-2, 2.84), while the Mules may look to Phil Cresta (4-3, 5.40), Chris Harper (1-4, 6.41) or Jason Daniels (4-2, 7.61).

Muhlenberg at Ursinus (Men's Lacrosse)
Although neither team could make the tournament at the end of the day, the loser of this match certainly will not. Wins by Haverford and McDaniel will eliminate the winner, but a loss by either brings tie-breakers into the equation. The Mules (3-4, 5-7) look to return to the Conference playoffs for a second straight season, while the Bears (3-4, 8-4) hope to make their first appearance in the CC final four. The teams have met seven times since 2003 and five of those contests have been decided by a single goal and none by more than three tallies.

Dickinson at Washington (Men's Tennis)
The Red Devils (4-4, 10-8) and the Shoremen (5-3, 11-5) play an elimination match Saturday in Chestertown. Both teams need victories to keep their playoff hopes alive with two spots still remaining. The day's top match comes at No. 1 singles as Dickinson's Ross Anstaett (14-6) meets Washington's Adam Cranford (12-4).

Dickinson at Washington (Women's Tennis)
The Devils (6-2, 11-5) and the Shorewomen (5-3, 10-4) meet in a critical match as three teams remain for two playoff spots. Dickinson clinches a spot for itself and Haverford with a victory. Washington can bring tie-breakers into the equation with a win and a victory against McDaniel. The Shorewomen #1 doubles team of Jordan Finnegan and Brittany Marshall are 17-1 overall this season.

Five-Star Matchups

Johns Hopkins at Washington (Baseball)
Something has to give today in Chestertown as the Conference's top offense faces the Centennial's second-best pitching staff. Johns Hopkins (12-0 CC, 25-3) is hitting .397 as a team and is averaging over 12 runs per game. Washington (7-5, 12-10) is second in team ERA (5.18), led by Shane Mattingly who is 4-1 with a 2.09 ERA.

Haverford at Ursinus (Softball)
Two of the final four teams in the 2009 Centennial tournament square off in Collegeville. The Bears (10-0, 20-2) have a four-game lead over the Fords (6-4, 13-11) and Gettysburg. Ursinus leads the CC in batting average (.338), team ERA (0.55) and fielding (.972). Haverford is third among Centennial teams with a 2.65 ERA.

Johns Hopkins at Swarthmore (Women's Tennis)
The last two CC unbeatens meet today along Crum Creek in a match that should determine the top seed for the upcoming Centennial team championship. The Blue Jays (5-0, 8-7) look to Carolyn Warren and Anita Bhamidipati at #1-3. The Garnet (6-0, 8-3) are led by #1 Rachel Wallwork who has won 22 consecutive CC matches.

Five-Star Matchups

This may be the hottest day of the entire spring for Centennial athletes and teams, as temperatures in the region could reach 90! Stay hydrated and come out to watch these key games.

Swarthmore at Washington (Women's Tennis)
The Garnet (4-0 CC, 6-3) tries to stay unbeaten in Conference play when it travels to Chestertown to take on the Shorewomen (3-1, 7-2). Keep an eye on the #1 singles match as two of the Centennial's best square off - Swarthmore's Rachel Wallwork (10-4) and Washington's Jordan Finnegan (9-3) - while the #1 doubles match between Wallwork/Emily Rosenblum and Finnegan/Brittany Marshall could also set the tone for the match.

Haverford at Ursinus (Men's Lacrosse)
How good are the Bears? Ursinus (3-1, 8-1) begins a three-game stretch that will answer that question tonight against the Fords (1-3, 5-5). Next up for UC - #2 Gettysburg and #5 Dickinson. Haverford is 7-1 all-time against the Bears with five straight wins since a 10-9 Ursinus win in 2004. Ursinus GK T.J. Magnani leads the Centennial in goals-against average (5.97) and save percentage (61.1), but will be tested by the Fords' Max Hjelm (23) and Myles Monaghan (20) who have combined for 43 goals.

Five-Star Matchups

Muhlenberg at Haverford (Baseball)
The Mules (3-1 CC, 9-9) and the Fords (3-1, 11-7) begin a crucial two-game series between a pair of teams tied for second place in the Conference. Haverford is second in the CC in hitting (.344), while the Mules are third (.338). Ford OF Jeff Butera leads the Conference in homers (5) and RBI (28) while placing second with a .500 average. Muhlenberg SS Dan Fisher tops the Centennial in hits (32) and runs scored (33).

Swarthmore at Washington (Baseball)
Two of the most surprising teams in the Conference start a two-game set today on the Eastern Shore. The Garnet (3-1, 11-7) is off to its best start in recent memory and is riding the big bat of Spencer Ross, who has four homers and 23 RBI. The Shoremen (3-1, 8-5) counter with the second-best team ERA in the Centennial (4.74), led by Chris Smith who is 2-1 with an 0.93 ERA.

Haverford at Ursinus (Women's Lacrosse)
A pair of Conference unbeatens meet in Collegeville in a match that will go a long way in determining playoff position come the end of next month. The Bears (1-0, 5-2) are 15-1 all-time against the Fords (1-0, 8-0), but Haverford's lone win came last season on the Main Line by an 18-16 count. Elizabeth Cannon is the top UC scoring threat with 16-10-26 on the season, while Haverford's Josie Ferri is averaging 5.0 points per game (27-13-40).

Dickinson at Johns Hopkins (Men's Tennis)
The Red Devils (1-0, 6-4) and the Blue Jays (1-0, 7-2) meet in a match of Conference unbeatens, but observers' eyes will turn to the #1 singles match between Dickinson's Ross Anstaett and Hopkins' David Maldow. Maldow is ranked fourth in the Atlantic South region, while Anstaett has been regionally ranked throughout his singles career.

Five-Star Matchups

McDaniel Invitational (Men's Golf)
Six of the Conference's seven teams get together at the site of last year's Centennial championship (The Bridges GC) for the two-day tournament. Players to watch include Dickinson's Joey Goldstein, F&M's Brendan Mohler, McDaniel's Keith Mazurek (pictured) and Muhlenberg's Zachary Oyer.

Washington at Haverford (Men's Lacrosse)
This clash between two of the preseason Conference favorites on the Main Line has a different flavor to it. Instead of battling for one of the top spots in the Conference, the Shoremen (1-2 CC, 3-4) and the Fords (0-2, 4-4) will fight to avoid a third CC loss before the end of March. Haverford broke an 0-19 history against Washington with an 8-5 victory in Chestertown last spring.

Washington at Dickinson (Women's Lacrosse)
Two teams with Conference playoff aspirations meet as the Shorewomen (1-1, 4-2) travel to Carlisle to take on the Red Devils (1-0, 4-1). Dickinson holds a slim 13-12 all-time series lead following five straight victories. Washington's last triumph was a 17-9 road win in 2004. Both teams have received strong play in goal - Dickinson's Jessie Clark and Washington's Stephanie Seibert have 54.7 and 54.5 save percentages, respectively.

Gettysburg at Haverford (Softball)
Two teams that qualified for the Centennial championship tournament in 2009 meet on the Main Line. The Bullets (2-0, 9-6-1) opened the CC season last weekend with a sweep of defending champ Muhlenberg, while the Fords (0-0, 6-6) open their CC schedule on Saturday. Gettysburg's Megan Lott is one of the top hitters in the Conference with three HR and 13 RBI to go with a .442 average.

Five-Star Matchups

It's always a special game when a pair of nationally-ranked undefeated teams square off with first place in the Conference on the line. Add to the mix a rivalry that goes back to 1957 and the fact that just 28 miles separate the campuses makes even more special. That game, and the matchup between the most surprising team in the Conference and a perennial powerhouse, means that you should go see a lacrosse game today.



Gettysburg at Dickinson (Men's Lacrosse)
The Bullets (2-0 CC, 8-0) and the Red Devils (1-0 CC, 8-0) meet for the 51st time in a series that has been dominated by the Orange and Blue. Gettysburg, ranked #1 in the country, has won 35 straight games from #8 Dickinson since a 10-5 triumph by the Red and White in 1975. The Red Devils have not defeated the Bullets in Carlisle since 1970 (7-5). Defense has been the name of the game for teams and could be the difference today. Gettysburg GK John LeClerc has a 5.87 goals-against average, while Dickinson's Tyler Magann (pictured) is at 6.20.

Ursinus at Washington (Men's Lacrosse)
The Bears (2-0, 6-0) are off to the best start in program history and look to keep the streak alive and make a splash on the national scene against the Shoremen (1-1, 3-3). Washington has won six of the previous seven meetings between the teams with Ursinus' lone triumph coming during the 2007 season in Collegeville (7-6). Each of the last three contests have been decided by no more than two goals.

Writing Comes Naturally to Washington Swim Star

Many students come to Washington College hoping the writing program will help them achieve their dreams of becoming published authors. For Jenna Moore '12, that dream became a reality during her first year of college, when Dorrance Publishing Co. printed The Creators: Book 1, The Universal Wars. It's the first book in a series she began writing in 7th grade.

"I've been writing since I was really little. I actually wrote the second and third books first, and then went back and wrote the first to fill in some of the basics you need to know about the characters going forward."

She started the series while daydreaming during class; her 7th grade English teacher encouraged her to keep writing and offered feedback on Jenna's work. When the drafts were finished, Jenna's parents urged her to get them published.

"I'm kind of shy about promoting my work like that," she said, but her dad found a list of publishers to approach and the first, Dorrance, wanted Jenna's story.

"It was really surprising, actually. I was so overwhelmed that they said yes!" Jenna said. "I'm hoping this one will do well so they want the others."

Her fantasy series isn't the only thing the creative writing student has in print. As a finalist in a 2006 International Poetry Society contest, two of Jenna's poems were published in an anthology, "Forever Spoken: Centers of Expression."

Jenna chose to attend Washington College because of the opportunities to develop both her fiction and poetry.

"My parents and I were always thinking academics first, and there's really no better place to go for writing," she said. "The teachers are really helpful. I think my poetry's better already."

Another important factor in her decision was Washington College's Division III athletic program. Jenna wanted to attend a school with a strong swimming program that would still allow her to pursue her other interests. "If I really wanted to write," she reasoned, "I needed the flexibility of a D-III school." Editor's Note: Jenna won four gold medals and two silver at the recent Centennial Conference Swimming Championships.

Given that flexibility, Jenna also joined the varsity rowing team. If that sounds like a lot to juggle, it is. In college, "It's tougher to find time for writing, especially with two sports," Jenna admitted, but that hasn't deterred her from working on the next books in her series.

"Writing is a good release for me, to get away and relax and not think about studying or races or anything else," she said. And if she doesn't get to write as often as she'd like, it's because she's taking advantage of so many other opportunities at the college.

"I can't imagine fitting anywhere else."

2010 Men's Basketball Championship

For the fourth time since the inception of the final four format in 2004, Franklin & Marshall College's Mayser Center will host the Centennial Conference Men's Basketball championship tournament. The 20th ranked Diplomats (21-4) will play host to fifth-seeded Muhlenberg (13-13) in the nightcap, while #2 Gettysburg (14-10) and #3 Washington (13-9) start the day at 1 p.m.

Franklin & Marshall is making its 13th appearance in the tournament and has four titles to its credit (1994-96-00-04). F&M is 9-3 in semifinal games and 4-5 in championship tilts, including home losses in 2005 and 2009. The Diplomats, led by 2010 CC Player of the Year James McNally and first-team All-CC guard Georgio Milligan, have a 13-5 record at Mayser in the Centennial tournament.

Gettysburg is making its 11th appearance in the Centennial dance and has won all three of its championships on the road (2001-02-09), including two against F&M in Lancaster. The defending champs are 5-4 in semifinal games and 3-2 in title tilts. The Bullets are led by first-team All-CC selection Andrew Powers, the 2009 CC Player of the Year.

Washington is in the Conference tournament for the eighth time and first since 2006. The Shoremen are just 1-6 in semifinal games and look to return to the Centennial final for the first time since 1999. Washington is led by first-team All-CC guard Andrew Chambers.

Muhlenberg makes its 13th appearance in the tournament and has a 7-10 overall mark. The Mules are 3-6 in semifinal games and won the title in 1995 and 1998. 'Berg is led by first-team All-CC forward Spencer Liddic.

Championship Website with links to LIVE video!

2010 Swimming Championship

The 17th annual Centennial Conference men's and women's swimming championship gets underway Friday morning at Franklin & Marshall College's Kunkel Aquatic Center. The Diplomat men and women captured the dual-meet championships and could be considered the favorites to capture the team titles. But the Gettysburg women and Swarthmore men will have something to say about that. The Bullet women are three-time defending champs, while the Garnet men gave F&M all it could handle in their dual meet in November.

Who 2 Watch on Day 1?

500 Freestyle: Washington's Rachel Glasser (5:00.21) is the odds-on favorite and will threaten both the championship meet (4:59.30) and Conference (4:58.91) records. The men's race has as many as five racers that could capture gold.

200 IM: This is setting up as a battle between F&M's Katherine DeCrosta (2:15.43) and Gettysburg's Caroline Coolidge (2:15.47) on the women's side. F&M's Tom Grabiak (1:56.11) and Matt Jaffee (1:57.78) will duel for gold and silver.

50 Freestyle: A pair of Washington swimmers have the best seed times entering the meet - Kathy Gerhart (24.65) and Jenna Moore (24.96). Also watch Dickinson's Jessica Hassinger (25.04) and Gettysburg's Maggie Mulderrig (25.18). The men's top seeds are Dickinson's Doug Murray (21.85) and F&M's David Apple (21.93).

You can watch the championship LIVE on your computer. The trials can be seen on a pay-per-view basis ($6) while the finals are provided free courtesy of the Centennial Conference and Franklin & Marshall.

You can get real-time results by clicking here. You can also get the medal winners of each event by following us on Twitter.