Cross Country Championship Preview

The 18th annual Centennial Conference Cross Country championships return to the Free State for the first time since 2005 as Johns Hopkins serves as the host of the 2010 event. Since the inception of the Centennial in 1993, the Haverford men and the Dickinson women have been the dominant programs. The Fords have won 15 Conference titles, while the Red Devils have captured 10 championships, including eight during the last decade.

In even-numbered years, the men’s race kicks things off and the two teams to watch are Dickinson and Haverford. The Red Devils ended the Fords’ 15-year run at the top of the Conference in 2008 and defended their title last fall in Gettysburg, tallying a Centennial record 16 points. Haverford finished second both years and looks to return to the top spot in 2010 with a strong team that is ranked sixth nationally.

Seniors Joseph Carpenter and Anders Hulleberg lead the fifth-ranked Fords. Carpenter was Haverford’s top finisher at the Paul Short Run, while Hulleberg was the top finisher for the Fords at the Princeton Invitational. Hulleberg is a two-time first-team All-Centennial runner, finishing third in 2007 and fifth last season. Keep an eye on sophomore Jordan Schilit and senior Chris Southwick, as well as senior Lucas Fuentes.

Dickinson, ranked 13th nationally, is led by the 1-2 combo of seniors Brian Krusell (pictured) and Kent Pecora. Krusell has been a first-team All-Centennial runner (finished in the top seven at the Championship) for the past three years and can join Haverford’s Karl Paranya (1993-96) as the only runner to earn first-team honors all four years. Senior Mike Tarkoff finished fourth at the championship last fall, earning first-team All-Centennial recognition.

Johns Hopkins, ranked sixth in the region, are led by a pair of seniors in Steve Tobochnik and Brandon Hahn. Tobochnik became just the second Blue Jay runner to earn first-team All-Centennial honors, placing seventh a year ago.

Others to keep an eye on include senior Bobby Torphy from Muhlenberg, junior Brendan Repack of Gettysburg and sophomore Aidan DuMont-McCaffrey of Swarthmore.

The women’s championship could be a three-team race between defending champion Johns Hopkins, Dickinson, and Haverford– all three among the top 10 in the Mideast Region. The Blue Jays, ranked fourth nationally, return a pair of first-team All-Centennial runners in junior Cecilia Furlong and sophomore Liz Provost, who finished third and seventh, respectively, last season. Senior Megan Brower and freshman Lara Shegoski have also impressed for the Jays.

Dickinson has finished second behind Hopkins in each of the last two seasons and is led by junior Catherine Campbell, who placed sixth at the 2009 championship. First-year Taylor Ludman and senior Kim Powell will also contend for medals for the 18th ranked Red Devils.

Haverford junior Emily Lipman was the Centennial Runner of the Year in 2009, capturing the individual title at the championship. She has finished in the top seven in each of her two campaigns with the 33rd ranked Fords. Freshmen Emily Scott and Erin Seglem, along with junior Alice Vienneau will also look to return the Conference trophy to the Main Line for the first time since 1996.

Others to watch in medal contention include McDaniel senior Lindsay Wilson, Gettysburg sophomore Kerry Campbell, Muhlenberg freshman Nicole Cronin and Swarthmore freshman Emma Saarel.

It All Comes Down to This

It's the final weekend of regular-season action in the Conference for field hockey, soccer and volleyball, while cross country kicks off the Centennial championship season with its run on Saturday at Gettysburg. We'll take a look at the most important games ... and give you a little playoff primer to help you sort through the possibilities for who is in ... and who is out.

Cross Country
Can they do it again? That's the question for the Dickinson College men and the Johns Hopkins University women, who pulled off surprising victories at last season's Centennial Conference Championships at Gettysburg. Dickinson became the first team other than Haverford College to win the men's title since the inception of the conference in 1993 while Johns Hopkins snapped Dickinson's eight-year run as women's champions."

Field Hockey
Gettysburg at Muhlenberg; Haverford at McDaniel; Dickinson at Washington; Franklin & Marshall at Swarthmore.
What We Know: Ursinus is the top seed, Gettysburg and Johns Hopkins are in the field and the Blue Jays have a first-round bye. The winner of the Haverford-McDaniel game is in. Haverford must win to get in ... a loss and the Fords are out.
What We Don't Know: The identity of the fifth team. The Mules end the suspense with a win vs. Gettysburg tonight. A McDaniel loss leaves the Terror in the hunt along with Muhlenberg, Franklin & Marshall and Dickinson. Of the six scenarios involving teams with 5-5 records, F&M gets the berth in three, while Dickinson, McDaniel and Muhlenberg get in on one each.

Soccer (W)
Franklin & Marshall at Swarthmore; Washington at Dickinson; Johns Hopkins at Ursinus; Gettysburg at Muhlenberg.
What We Know: The five teams in the tournament - Johns Hopkins, Muhlenberg, Haverford, Swarthmore and Dickinson. The Jays, Mules and Fords have first-round byes. The Red Devils and Garnet meet in the first-round game.
What We Don't Know: Where are the games? Who is the top seed? A Muhlenberg victory gives the Mules the top seed and home field for the final four. A 'Berg loss and a Hopkins' win gives JHU the top seed. A three-way tie at 8-2 goes in favor of the Mules. If Dickinson and Swarthmore tie at 7-3 or 6-4, the Garnet is the 4th seed and hosts Wednesday's first-round match.

Soccer (M)
Ursinus at Muhlenberg; Johns Hopkins at Washington; Swarthmore at Haverford; Franklin & Marshall at Dickinson.
What We Know: The five teams in the tournament - Muhlenberg, Dickinson, Swarthmore, Johns Hopkins and Franklin & Marshall. Diplomats cannot be top seed. Yep, that's it.
What We Don't Know: What the seeds are ... who plays who ... and where? Five teams separated by three points (3 for a win, 1 for a tie), so let's see the possibilities -- Muhlenberg wins and is the #1 seed. Mules lose and Dickinson wins ... Devils are top seed. 'Berg and Dickinson lose, Swarthmore wins. Garnet takes #1 spot and gets home field for the final four. Mules, Devils, Garnet lose, Hopkins wins. Blue Jays are top seed. Many more scenarios ... not enough space.

Volleyball
Haverford at McDaniel; Gettysburg at Muhlenberg; Johns Hopkins at Ursinus
What We Know: Haverford is the top seed and will host the final four. Franklin & Marshall and Gettysburg have first-round byes and will meet in one semifinal. Swarthmore is the #4 seed and will host a first-round match on Wednesday.
What We Don't Know: Who plays Swarthmore as the #5 seed? McDaniel can secure the final spot with a win. Muhlenberg gets the slot with a win and a Green Terror loss. Johns Hopkins slides in with a win and losses by both 'Berg and McDaniel.

Tuesday's aCCtion

Cross Country (W)
Dickinson won its 15th consecutive "Little Three" title with wins over Franklin & Marshall and Gettysburg. Kerrin Epstein of Gettysburg was the individual winner.

Cross Country (M)
Make it 13 straight "Little Three" titles for Dickinson as the Devils downed F&M and Gettysburg. Greg Leak, the 2008 CC Runner of the Year, was first across the finish line.

Field Hockey
#6 Lebanon Valley handed Dickinson a 9-2 defeat. Lizzie Boorse, the reigning CC Player of the Week, had a goal and an assist for the Devils. Franklin & Marshall outshot Neumann, 36-3, on its way to a 3-0 defeat of the Knights. Nina Emala scored the game-winning goal in overtime to lift #13 Gettysburg past Catholic, 2-1. Three second-half goals proved to be the difference in Elizabethtown's 3-0 win over Swarthmore.

Soccer (W)
Dickinson set a school and Conference record with its sixth straight shutout in a 2-0 triumph over Immaculata.

Soccer (M)
Elizabethtown scored a goal in the second overtime period to down McDaniel, 2-1.

Tennis (W)
Bryn Mawr dropped a 7-2 decision to West Chester, winning at No. 1 doubles and No. 4 singles.

Volleyball
Nicole Burns and Virginia Hogan each had 10 kills as Gettysburg swept Bryn Mawr in its Centennial opener. Alex Zenoff had 13 kills as Johns Hopkins handled Hood in four sets. Catholic needed four sets to dispatch Washington despite 11 kills from Alyssa Forget.

Five-Star Matchups

Gettysburg at Washington (Field Hockey)
The Bullets (3-2, 8-5) and the Shorewomen (4-2, 9-3) meet in a crucial match for the playoff hopes of both teams. It is the 17th time that the two schools have played with Gettysburg winning the last four to take a 12-4 all-time series lead. In a game of comparing scores ... both teams have lost to Ursinus by 4-0 counts and to Hopkins by 3-1 (Washington) and 3-2 (Gettysburg) decisions.

Swarthmore at Franklin & Marshall (Men's Soccer)
The Garnet (4-1, 9-2-1) and the Diplomats (2-1-2, 7-4-2) meet in a critical game for both teams' playoff positions. It is the 62nd meeting between the two long-time foes in a series that began in 1926. Swarthmore holds a 33-24-4 advantage and captured a 1-0 decision last season at Clothier Field. The Garnet has also taken the last two matches in Lancaster. The first goal may be the difference, as the last five matches have all been decided by 1-0 counts.

Johns Hopkins at Muhlenberg (Women's Soccer)
The eighth-ranked Blue Jays (6-0, 10-0-3) put their unbeaten record on the line in Allentown against the Mules (3-1-1, 8-3-2). Hopkins holds an 11-6-1 all-time series lead with wins in the last five matches. Muhlenberg has won four of the last five games at Varsity Field, but the Jays captured a 1-0 decision in the last meeting in 2005.

Franklin & Marshall at Haverford (Volleyball)
The Diplomats (3-2, 8-12) and the Fords (5-1, 17-5) meet in a match that has playoff implications for both teams ... and will serve as a "warm-up" for both teams' matches later in the afternoon against #1 Juniata. F&M leads the all-time series with Haverford, 18-6, and has not lost on the Main Line since 2001.

Gettysburg Invitational (Cross Country)
The site of the 2008 Centennial Conference championship, Haverford (women), Johns Hopkins, McDaniel, Ursinus and the host Bullets will give the Battlefield course a look at the annual meet. On the women's side, the 14th ranked Blue Jays appear to be the CC team to beat. Keep an eye on the individual race between JHU's Laura Paulsen and Ursinus' Christa Johnson, winner of her last six events.

Time Management and the Three-Sport Athlete

by Annick Lamar, Haverford

For 11 sporting seasons and seven semesters I have been a Haverford College student and runner. When first asked to write an article about how a three-season athlete manages her time, I had trouble identifying with the person I was supposed to be writing about. Over these four years, as my running has become a lifestyle, my ability to manage my time has become second nature.

There was a moment at Haverford when running became more than a sport to me. It was perhaps during one the races of my freshman year that instead of thinking of training as a tiresome burden, training became the road to achieving my dreams. I wanted to ice more, stretch more, run longer miles, faster times, bigger venues, and risk much to achieve my goals. I approached cross country, indoor and outdoor track not as simple races but as personal challenges that I could rise above and answer. Yes, I am better than the week before. Yes, my fear does not control me. Yes, I dare to show the competition the back of my singlet. Never having been a spectator, I don’t know what non-runners see when we perform. I only see runners willing themselves beyond their physical boundaries, demanding that they yield. And, because I see battles in races and unimaginable strength in those willing to push their limits, I have built my life around doing what I love and doing everything I can to preserve it.

Despite my previous analysis about the psyche of a runner, I am first a student at Haverford College. Whether I want to be five seconds faster than last week, an All-American, or a shock to Division I runners that I dare to be better than, I can achieve none of this without being the kind of student Haverford demands of me. Haverford sets such high expectations and in answering these expectations, I again achieve victories, though they may not be as obvious as the ones on the track. If I can successfully write the best thesis of which I am capable, prove that I am well read in Africana existentialist philosophy, and understand the complexities of Black Nationalism, then I am victorious in the most essential part of this balancing act.

Though I write as if I carry the weight of the world on my shoulders, I am no Atlas. On my team alone, I find nothing but intelligent women who must organize their schedules, plan their time, and make choices—not sacrifices—all to participate in an activity that gives their life a certain amount of meaning. I can only reason that this is why my team of 40 goes to bed early, brings homework to meets, writes papers in advance, and participates in its own personal balancing act day in and day out. As for advice I can only say that if you truly love your sport and you respect your professors, then the burden you bear of having not enough hours in the day will be lessened. Choose classes that interest and challenge you, and do not be afraid to lean on your teammates to get you through the hard times. For me, these past 11 sporting seasons and seven semesters would have meant nothing without the other, and for that, I have learned how to keep my balance.

Saturday Updates

Cross Country
Women: 1. Dickinson 33, 2. Haverford 52, 3. Johns Hopkins 81, 4. Swarthmore 122, 5. Gettysburg 131, 6. Ursinus 185, 7. Muhlenberg 193, 8. Franklin & Marshall 198, 9. Bryn Mawr 252, 10. McDaniel 293.

Individuals: 1. Cait Bradley (D) 22:11, course record; 2. Annick Lamar (H) 22:47; 3. Laura Paulsen (JH) 23:08; 4. Jane Weber (H) 23:17; 5. Layla Naficy (D) 23:19; 6. Darian Lunne (H) 23:24; 7. Rachel Guthridge (G) 23:31; 8. Laura Straw (D) 23:35; 9. Caitlin Strahota (D) 23:37; 10. Anna Lovett (D) 23:38.

Men: 1. Haverford 21, 2. Dickinson 55, 3. Johns Hopkins 84, 4. Muhlenberg 110, 5. Swarthmore 127, 6. Gettysburg 179, 7. Franklin & Marshall 209, 8. McDaniel 221, 9. Ursinus 288.

Individuals: 1. Donald Letts (H) 25:50, course record; 2. Ian Ramsey-North (H) 25:50; 3. Anders Hulleberg (H) 25:54; 4. Andrew Lanham (H) 25:58; 5. Brian Krusell (D) 26:00; 6. Tim Van Syckle (Mu) 26:24; 7. Patrick Brandon (JH) 26:26; 8. Greg Leak (D) 26:31; 9. Evan Sparling (D) 26:35; 10. David Chorney (Mu) 26:35.

Football
Muhlenberg 29, Dickinson 24
Franklin & Marshall 24, McDaniel 17 (OT)
Final: Ursinus 27, Moravian 0
3rd Quarter: Johns Hopkins 42, Juniata 7

Field Hockey
Final: Ursinus 5, Johns Hopkins 1
Final: McDaniel 3, Haverford 2

Men's Soccer
Final: Dickinson 2, Franklin & Marshall 0

Volleyball
Haverford 3, McDaniel 0
Johns Hopkins 3, Ursinus 1

The Final Day

pictured: Ian Ramsey-North, Haverford

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... of the 2007 regular season for field hockey, soccer and volleyball is Saturday and top seeds are strill up for grabs. The 15th annual Centennial cross country championships will be at Franklin & Marshall, while first place in football is on the line in Allentown. It promises to be a great weekend ... we hope to see you at a Conference venue.

Centennial Conference Championships (Cross Country)
The UCLA men's basketball team reeled off 88 consecutive victories during the 70s. The Connecticut women's team won 70 straight basketball games from 2001-03. Joe DiMaggio hit safely in 56 consecutive baseball games in 1941. And then there are the Haverford men's and Dickinson women's cross country teams. The Fords and the Red Devils go for their 15th and eighth consecutive titles, respectively, at the 15th annual Conference championship meet at Franklin & Marshall. The women's 6K race begins at 11 a.m. while the men's 8K race starts at noon.  Preview

Johns Hopkins at Ursinus (Field Hockey)
Doesn't get much bigger than this ... winner gets the top seed and hosts next weekend's tournament. The seventh-ranked Blue Jays (8-0 CC, 12-3) come to Collegeville to take on the sixth-ranked Bears (8-1, 14-2) who are on a roll. Following a loss to F&M on Oct. 6, Ursinus has defeated six straight opponents by an aggregate score of 43-1. The Bears are 7-1 all-time against the Hopkins, but the Jays' win came in Collegeville in the 2003 Centennial semifinals by a 1-0 count.

Dickinson at Muhlenberg (Football)
It's one of the top games in the country this weekend in Allentown as the defending CC champion Red Devils (4-1, 6-1) come to town to battle the undefeated Mules (5-0, 7-0). It is the 63rd time that the two schools have met on the gridiron since 1923 with 'Berg holding a 36-24-1 advantage. The Mules are ranked 17th in Division III by the AFCA and 20th by D3football.com.

Franklin & Marshall at Dickinson (Men's Soccer)
It's simple really ... the Red Devils (4-2-2, 12-2-2) win, they're in the Conference tournament. A loss and Dickinson needs help. Standing in the Devils' path, the #12 team in the country - Franklin & Marshall (7-1, 15-1). It is the 56th meeting between the two clubs with the Diplomats holding a 33-17-5 advantage. Dickinson won last year's meeting by a 1-0 count in Carlisle.

Swarthmore at Haverford (Men's Soccer)
It is the 85th renewal of one of college soccer's oldest rivalries as the Garnet (4-3-1, 10-3-3) and the Fords (0-7-1, 2-13-1) meet on Walton Field. Haverford holds a 43-33-8 series lead but Swarthmore has won three straight. The Garnet need a victory to keep its playoff hopes alive and there is nothing that would make a disappointing season brighter for the Fords than a win over their archrival.

Johns Hopkins at Ursinus (Women's Soccer)
The top seed and homefield advantage is on the line in Collegeville in another sport as the Blue Jays (8-1, 12-4-1) and the Bears (7-1-1, 11-4-2) meet on the soccer pitch. Hopkins is the two-time defending Centennial titleist and has never lost to Ursinus in 11 matches. The Bears managed a 1-1 draw in 2005 in the teams' last meeting in Collegeville. An Ursinus win gives the Bears the #1 seed, while a win or draw does the same for Hopkins.

Haverford at McDaniel (Women's Soccer)
The fifth and final playoff berth is at stake for the Fords (5-2-2, 8-6-2) who control their own destiny. A victory puts Haverford in the next week's tournament field, while a loss opens the door for Franklin & Marshall. The Green Terror (2-7, 3-14) won last year's meeting in Westminster by a 2-1 count to close the series deficit to 9-6-2.

Franklin & Marshall at Swarthmore (Women's Soccer)
The challenge is daunting for the Diplomats (5-4, 8-5-2) - beat Swarthmore (6-2-1, 11-2-1) and hope that McDaniel can defeat or draw Haverford to keep their playoff dreams alive. History is on F&M's side, as the Blue and White holds a 23-3-1 all-time series advantage. Of course, the Garnet is 3-1 over the last four seasons with the Diplomats, including a 2-0 win last season.

Haverford at McDaniel (Volleyball)
A three-way tie for the Conference lead will be sorted out after this match in Westminster. The 15th ranked Fords (8-1, 26-2) can wrap up the top seed and gain homecourt advantage for next weekend's CC final four with a victory. The Green Terror (8-1, 15-7) needs a win vs. Haverford and an Ursinus (1-8, 5-17) upset of Johns Hopkins (8-1, 22-4) to secure the #1 position. A McDaniel win, combined with a Blue Jay victory, gives Hopkins the top spot. Haverford has won seven straight in the series to pull even at 7-7.

Around the Conference

pictured: Emily Hinchcliff, Haverford

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We're a day away from the weekend, so let's take a quick look at what's going on around the Conference.

Cross Country
Dickinson swept by Franklin & Marshall and Gettysburg to win another Little Three championship. Nick Karwoski (Hollis, NH / Groton) was the men's winner - the eighth straight Dickinson runner to capture the individual championship, as the Red Devils made it 10 titles in a row. The Dickinson women made it 14 Little Three crowns in a row as Cait Bradley (Fairfield, CT / Fairfield) defended her individual title. Muhlenberg's David Chorney made school history by becoming the first Mule to win the annual Lehigh Valley Championships, which since 2001 has brought together runners from Division I, II and III schools.

Field Hockey
Did you know that the Centennial is 25-11 against non-Conference opposition through Wednesday's games? Franklin & Marshall is the lone unbeaten team (4-0) which is quite a turnaround from 2006 when the Diplomats dropped their first six games. Three teams are ranked in the national top 20 - Ursinus (2), Johns Hopkins (12) and F&M (16). Dickinson wrapped up its ODAC portion of the non-CC schedule at 3-0, downing E. Mennonite, Roanoke and Bridgewater.

Volleyball
Props to Haverford's Emily Hinchcliff (Ithaca, NY / Ithaca) on becoming the school's career leader in assists (3,917). She needs 83 more to become the fifth player in Centennial history to reach 4,000 set assists. The Fords are now 10-0 and ranked 16th nationally. Guess who else is unbeaten -- Bryn Mawr. The Owls are 6-0 overall and 4-0 against NCAA opposition. Franklin & Marshall made it 15 straight vs. Washington with a three-game sweep of the Shorewomen.