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

Tennis takes center stage this weekend in the Conference, as the top seed for the Centennial championship tournament is on the line.

Johns Hopkins at Haverford (Men's Tennis)
The 12th ranked Blue Jays (5-0 CC, 10-3) bring their 43-match Centennial win streak to the Main Line to take on the Fords (5-0, 7-5). Hopkins' Andrew Wang (10-5), ranked 39th nationally, could meet Haverford's Kevin Caulfield (8-3) at No. 1 singles in the premier match.

Johns Hopkins at Washington College (Women's Tennis)
The Blue Jays (6-0, 9-1) and the Shorewomen (6-0, 11-0) battle for first place in the Centennial in Chestertown. The tone of the match could be set at No. 1 doubles, as Hopkins' Hailey Hogan and Nandita Krishnan (7-1) meet Washington's Jordan Finnegan and Brittany Marshall (13-1). Hogan and Krishnan defeated the #2 doubles team in the region from Carnegie Mellon in their last match. Finnegan and Marshall are 32-2 in their last 34 matches.

Johns Hopkins at Swarthmore (Baseball)
The first-place Blue Jays (6-1, 13-8) look to protect their one-game lead at the top of the CC standings when they visit the Garnet (4-3, 13-8). The two teams have met 107 times with Hopkins winning 21 straight to take a 69-38 overall lead in the series. Swarthmore's last win was a 6-3 triumph in the opener of a 2000 home doubleheader. JHU is ranked 24th in the latest d3baseball.com/NCBWA poll. Two of the Conference's top pitchers in ERA will meet on the mound - Hopkins' Alex Eliopoulos (4-1, 1.65) and Swat's Ignacio Rodriguez (3-1, 2.32).

Gettysburg at Ursinus (Softball)
The Bullets (3-1, 13-9) and the Bears (3-2, 10-10) meet in a twinbill that could have significance on the playoff chase. Gettysburg is second in the CC in batting with a .339 average, led by Sam Bader who is hitting at a .488 clip. Ursinus is second in the Centennial in team ERA (2.27), paced by Jennilyn Weber's 0.79.

Gettysburg at Ursinus (Women's Lacrosse)
The Bears' "Hell Week" continues as sixth-ranked Gettysburg (5-0, 8-2) comes to town. Ursinus (4-1, 6-5) gave seventh-ranked Franklin & Marshall all it wanted on Wednesday before falling, 11-9, but now looks to break a 13-game losing streak to the Bullets. The Bears' last home win was an 11-7 triumph in 2001. Gettysburg's Lindsey Robinson is fourth in the CC in scoring (26-18-44) while UC's Alyssa Thren is second in goals with 35.

Five-Star Matchups

Dickinson at Gettysburg (Men's Lacrosse)
The Route 34 rivalry takes on even greater importance this afternoon as the ninth-ranked Red Devils (3-0 CC, 9-1) look to strengthen their hold on first place in the CC against the Bullets (2-1, 6-4). It is the 50th meeting between the two schools that are separated by just 28 miles with Gettysburg holding a 43-6 all-time lead. Dickinson's last win in the series was at the Battlefield in 1975 (10-5) - a stretch of 36 games. It's a battle between the highest-scoring team in the CC - Dickinson (11.5) - and the stingiest defense - Gettysburg (6.75).

Ursinus at Franklin & Marshall (Women's Lacrosse)
Two of the three unbeatens in the Conference square off in Lancaster with a share of first place in the CC on the line. The four-time defending champion Diplomats (4-0, 10-1) are ranked seventh nationally, while the Bears (4-0, 6-4) are unbeaten in their first four Centennial games for the first time since 2002. F&M has won nine straight games vs. Ursinus but still trails in the all-time series, 26-13-1. The Bears' last win was a 13-7 triumph in the 2002 Centennial semifinals. Ironically, the two current head coaches - F&M's Lauren Paul '03 and Ursinus' Erin Stroble '02 - squared off in that 2002 game in the uniforms of their alma maters on their way to first-team All-Centennial honors that spring.

Johns Hopkins at Franklin & Marshall (Men's Tennis)
The 12th ranked Blue Jays (4-0, 9-3) bring their 42-match Centennial unbeaten streak to Lancaster to take on the Diplomats (2-0, 6-3). JHU has not lost a Conference match since a 5-2 defeat at Washington College on April 20, 2006. Hopkins has won six straight in the series that began in 1927 but F&M holds a 28-14 all-time advantage. The tone of the match could be set at #1 doubles, as Hopkins' Jacob Barnaby and Casey Blythe (9-0) meet F&M's William MacArthur and Ross Silverberg (5-1).

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.

Five-Star Matchups

The first weekend of spring certainly is colder than most of us would like ... but it is here and with it comes the first weekend of Conference play in baseball and softball. Can Johns Hopkins and Dickinson repeat? They both face big challenges on Saturday, while key lacrosse and tennis matches are also on the docket. Bundle up and we hope to see you at a Centennial game this weekend.

BASEBALL
Johns Hopkins at Haverford (2)
Dickinson at Swarthmore (2)
The defending CC champs and the three teams with the best non-conference records in the Centennial meet in doubleheaders to open the 2011 season. Hopkins (7-5) travels to the Main Line to take on Haverford (13-2) in a rematch of last spring's CC title game. OF Jesse Sikorski leads the Jays with a .372 average and 12 RBI, while SS Charlie Carluccio has a .396 average and 16 ribbies for the Fords. Pitching will be the order of the day as JHU throws (probable) Alex Eliopoulos (3-1, 1.02) and Sam Eagleson (1-0, 2.41), while Haverford counters with Colin Sarafin (3-1, 3.38) and Jonny Williams (3-0, 1.29).

Down the road a piece in Delaware County, the Red Devils (13-4) and the Garnet (9-5) meet in a twinbill. OF Mike Schuster is hitting .443 and has seven steals for Dickinson, while C Mike Waterhouse has a .449 average with 16 RBI and a .653 slugging percentage for Swarthmore. Probable pitchers: D-Sean White (3-1, 1.67) and Evan Fitzpatrick (3-1, 2.03); S-Ignacio Rodriguez (2-1, 2.89) and Neil Mejia (1-0, 3.29) or Kyle Crawford (0-1, 9.00).

SOFTBALL
Ursinus at Dickinson
The Red Devils (5-9) open defense of their 2010 Centennial title by taking on the new-look Bears (6-5). 1B Madison Gerish is hitting at a .350 clip for Dickinson with 11 RBI, while OF Amy Gentile has a .440 average for UC. Allison Jordan (2-3, 2.57) has fanned 52 in 32 2/3 innings of mound work, while rookie Chelsea Homa (2-3, 0.24) has 43 K's in 29 1/3 innings for the Devils. Jennilyn Weber (4-2, 1.02) may see double-duty on the mound for Ursinus.

WOMEN'S LACROSSE
Ursinus at Dickinson
The Bears (1-0, 3-4) travel to Carlisle to take on the Red Devils (1-0, 4-5) in a late March contest to could have playoff implications in late April. Ursinus leads the series, 13-4, and snapped a four-game skid to Dickinson with a 9-3 triumph last season in Collegeville. Allison Furman (9-11-20) and Alyssa Thren (20-1-21) are a potent 1-2 offensive combo for the Bears, but will be challenged by Devil 'keeper Jessie Clark who leads the CC with a .507 save percentage.

MEN'S LACROSSE
Ursinus at Dickinson
Are you noticing a trend that Carlisle is the "place to be" for big Conference games on Saturday? The men's lax contest between the first-place Bears (2-0, 6-1) and the 12th ranked Red Devils (0-0, 6-1) should be no exception. Dickinson has a 6-2 all-time lead in the series, but Ursinus has won two of the last three games by two-goal margins in 2008 and 2009. The top two scorers in the Centennial will be on display in the Devils' Brian Cannon (18-16-34) and the Bears' Jeff Ocampo (24-6-30).

MEN'S and WOMEN'S TENNIS
Johns Hopkins at Swarthmore
It's a rematch of the 2010 Centennial team finals as the Blue Jays and the Garnet meet in a net doubleheader at the Mullen Tennis Center. The 11th ranked Hopkins women (1-0, 3-0) defeated the Garnet (2-0, 3-5) a year ago for their fourth straight Conference title. Four of the top 25 ranked women in the Atlantic South region will play on Saturday in JHU's Carolyn Warren (4), Nandita Krishnan (10) and Hailey Hogan (11), along with Swarthmore's Lia Carlson (24).

The Blue Jay men (1-0, 4-3), ranked 13th nationally, downed the Garnet (1-0, 4-5) for their fourth consecutive Centennial championship last spring. JHU has three players ranked in the Atlantic South region - Andrew Wang (8), Andy Hersh (9) and Warren Elgort (11), while the doubles team of Casey Blythe and Jacob Barnaby are fifth.

MEN'S GOLF
McDaniel Invitational at The Bridges GC
All seven of the Conference's teams will participate in the 36-hole McDaniel Invitational this weekend. The Invitational will also serve as the Conference's qualifying tournament for the NCAA championship, should the Centennial tournament be unable to be played on April 30-May 1. McDaniel posted the lowest team stroke average in the fall (311.08), led by senior Paul Kovalcheck who carded the low individual average (74.50). Also watch Gettysburg's Peter Ruymann (75.33) and F&M's Cameron Warner (75.50).

Five-Star Matchups

It's the first edition of Five-Star Matchups for the spring season as men's and women's lacrosse heads into the Conference schedule.

Haverford at Gettysburg (Men's Lacrosse)
It's a rematch of last spring's championship game as the eighth-ranked Fords (5-1) and the 18th ranked Bullets (4-3) open the Centennial schedule. Haverford captured its first-ever CC crown with a 11-8 victory over Gettysburg at the Battlefield - a place that the Black Squirrels had not defeated the Bullets since the inception of the Conference in 1994. Gettysburg leads the all-time series, 27-3. Haverford has a balanced scoring attack with five players with seven or more goals, while the Bullets have a quartet of players with eight or more tallies. The third period will be crucial, as the Fords have outscored their opponents, 14-6, while Gettysburg has a 19-9 advantage in the third period.

Haverford at Gettysburg (Women's Lacrosse)
The Conference schedules kicks off with a whale of a matchup between the perennial power Bullets (3-1) and the upstart Fords (4-1). Gettysburg has won 17 straight games in the series since a 13-6 loss at Haverford in 1994. The Fords' only win at the Battlefield was in 1986 (9-7). The Bullets are led in scoring by Lindsey Robinson (11-11-22) and Hannah Church (14-4-18), while Haverford turns to Josie Ferri (25-9-34).

Muhlenberg at Franklin & Marshall (Women's Lacrosse)
The new-look Diplomats (4-1) take on the fast-starting Mules (4-1) who look to reverse history Saturday in Lancaster. Muhlenberg is 0-26 against F&M and has only come within four goals of the Blue once since 1994. Lauren Selawski leads the Dips in scoring (10-6-16), while the Mules are led by the one-two combo of Danielle Rosen and Angela Napoletano who each have 19 goals.

Five-Star Matchups

Perhaps we should have called this "The Final Countdown." It's the final day of the basketball season, while the swimmers begin their second season this weekend at Gettysburg at the Conference championships. The track and field athletes prepare for next weekend's championship meet at Haverford, while the wrestlers gear up for next Saturday's Centennial tournament at Washington and Lee.

Let's talk hoops on this blog entry ... and the scenarios surrounding the final berths for the playoffs.

Women's Basketball
Four teams are in the field - Johns Hopkins (1), Muhlenberg (2), Gettysburg (3) and Ursinus. A Bear win over the Mules will give Ursinus the No. 4 seed and home court for Wednesday's first-round game against either Franklin & Marshall or Swarthmore. A loss combined with a Diplomat win vs. Dickinson would enable F&M to slip into the four-spot and host UC on Wednesday. A F&M loss combined with a Swarthmore win vs. Haverford would allow the Garnet to grab the No. 5 position and oust the Diplomats.

Swarthmore at Haverford, 1:00
Ursinus at Muhlenberg, 2:00
Dickinson at Franklin & Marshall, 2:00
Muhlenberg has clinched the No. 2 seed and will face Gettysburg in the CC semifinals next weekend at Johns Hopkins. Ursinus (11-8 CC, 15-9) can secure the No. 4 seed with a win or with a loss by F&M. The Bears have dropped five straight to the Mules since a 2008 win at Memorial Hall. The Diplomats (10-9, 12-12) have lost four consecutive contests and 10 of the last 11 to the Red Devils and need a victory to lock down a playoff berth. A loss opens the door for the Garnet (10-9, 14-10) who has won 23 of the last 26 games with Haverford. But the Fords defeated Swat by 21 in the year's first meeting at Tarble. F&M holds the tie-breaker with the Garnet due to its season sweep of Swarthmore.

Men's Basketball
We know that three teams are in the field - Franklin & Marshall (1), Dickinson (2) and McDaniel. The Green Terror and Gettysburg meet at Bream with the winner receiving the third first-round bye. A Bullet win would make McDaniel the No. 4 seed and the Terror would host the first-round game on Wednesday. A Gettysburg victory would also mean Ursinus can secure the final spot in the tournament with a win at Muhlenberg. A Bear loss in this scenario opens the door for Haverford to get in the field with a win over Swarthmore. Losses by the Fords and UC gets the Mules in as the No. 5 seed.

But if McDaniel wins ... Ursinus can get the #4 spot with a victory, while Haverford gets to host the first-round game with a win and a Bear loss. Gettysburg slides in at #4 with losses by the Fords and the Bears. An Ursinus win means that Haverford can qualify with a win, while a loss puts the Bullets in at No. 5. Follow all that?

McDaniel at Gettysburg, 2:00
Swarthmore at Haverford, 3:00
Ursinus at Muhlenberg, 4:00
The Green Terror (10-7, 13-11) looks for its first season sweep of the Bullets (10-7, 13-11) since 2007. The Bears (9-8, 12-12) and the Mules (8-9, 12-12) meet for the 100th time with UC looking for its sixth win in eight games vs. 'Berg. Watch the battle of the big guys - Ursinus' Jon Ward and Muhlenberg's Kevin Hargrove. The Fords (9-8, 12-11) have won seven in a row vs. the Garnet who has not won at Gooding Arena since 2006.

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's the weekend prior to Valentine's Day and (pardon the upcoming pun) we have some Sweetheart matchups as the basketball regular season enters its penultimate Saturday, the wrestling dual-meet title is on the line and the indoor track and field season enters the home stretch.

Women's Basketball
Franklin & Marshall at Swarthmore
Johns Hopkins at Ursinus
Two huge games dot the Conference landscape on Saturday as the Diplomats (9-8 CC, 11-11) travel to take on the Garnet (9-8, 13-9) and the Blue Jays (15-3, 18-4) visit Collegeville and the Bears (10-7, 14-8). F&M and Swarthmore are tied in the loss column with Washington College for the fifth and final CC playoff berth. The Diplomats won the first meeting of the season by 20 and look for their ninth win in the last 11 games vs. the Garnet. Hopkins can clinch the top seed and home court for the Centennial tournament by avenging its overtime home loss to Ursinus on Jan. 8. The Bears can take a huge step toward the playoffs and hosting a first-round contest with a victory.

STANDINGS
Hopkins ..... 15-3
Muhlenberg .. 13-4
Gettysburg .. 12-5
Ursinus ..... 10-7
Swarthmore ..  9-8
F&M .........  9-8
Washington ..  8-8

Men's Basketball
Muhlenberg at McDaniel
Haverford at Dickinson
Four of the six teams fighting for the four remaining playoff spots meet in games in Westminster and Carlisle. The Mules (8-7, 12-10) and the Green Terror (8-7, 11-11) square off in a contest that will go a long way in determining one of those slots. Muhlenberg has won seven of the last nine at the Gill Center and captured an 80-66 decision in Allentown in the year's first meeting. The Red Devils (10-5, 12-10) can clinch a playoff berth with a victory over the Fords (8-7, 11-10). Haverford, who has qualified for the CC tournament in each of the last three odd-numbered years, can solidly improve its chances to continue that streak with a win.

STANDINGS
F&M ......... 13-2
Dickinson ... 10-5
Muhlenberg ..  8-7
Haverford ...  8-7
Gettysburg ..  8-7
McDaniel ....  8-7
Ursinus .....  7-8

Wrestling
Johns Hopkins, Merchant Marine at Stevens
The Blue Jays (4-1, 8-9) and the Mariners (5-0, 11-2) visit Hoboken to meet the Ducks (4-1, 11-10-1) and Gettysburg in the regular-season Conference quad finale. A Hopkins sweep would give JHU its first-ever Centennial dual title, while one win would give USMMA its fourth consecutive dual-meet crown. Stevens can also grab a share of its first crown, while Ursinus can still sneak in as dual champs with two losses by the Mariners and a split by Hop and the Ducks. The 174-pound weight class could be crucial as Kings Point's Justin Diesel (19-2), Stevens' Ryan Dormann (28-3) and JHU's Pat Stanley (18-4) do battle.

STANDINGS
USMMA ....... 5-0
Hopkins ..... 4-1
Stevens ..... 4-1
Ursinus ..... 4-2

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

Five-Star Matchups

There's a new way to watch Centennial Conference sports - the "C Zone" Channel. We have created a web page that has all the video screens from our member schools. It's not quite NFL "Red Zone" style, but does provide you with a window into all the day's action on one screen. Hope you enjoy!

Haverford at McDaniel
Muhlenberg at Franklin & Marshall (Men's Basketball)
The Diplomats (11-2 CC, 15-5) hold a three-game lead in the chase for the top seed and home court for the Conference tournament, while the other three are trying to land one of the remaining four spots. The Mules (8-5, 12-8) ended a seven-game losing streak against F&M with a 71-67 victory in Allentown. But 'Berg has not won at Mayser since the 2001 Centennial semifinals. The Green Terror (8-5, 11-9) downed the Fords (7-6, 10-9) in the year's first meeting and look for the second season sweep in four seasons. Haverford has dropped three straight games at the Gill Center.

STANDINGS

F&M .......... 11-2
Muhlenberg ...  8-5
Gettysburg ...  8-5
McDaniel .....  8-5
Dickinson ....  8-5
Haverford ....  7-6

Ursinus at Gettysburg
Muhlenberg at Franklin & Marshall (Women's Basketball)
Four of the team chasing front-running Johns Hopkins in the women's basketball standings square off on Saturday. The Bullets (10-5 CC, 15-5), fresh from an overtime win at Hopkins, entertain the Bears (9-6, 13-7), while the Diplomats (9-6, 11-9) welcome the Mules (10-4, 14-5) to Mayser Center. Ursinus looks for its first two-game season sweep of Gettysburg since 1995. A Bear win would give UC 14 for the season - just the second time since 1997 that Ursinus has won 14 or more games. Gettysburg has won five straight from the Bears at Bream Gym. Muhlenberg has won five in a row from F&M and eight of the last nine.

STANDINGS

Hopkins ...... 13-3
Muhlenberg ... 10-4
Gettysburg ... 10-5
Ursinus ......  9-6
F&M ..........  9-6
Swarthmore ...  8-7
Washington ...  7-7

Dickinson at Swarthmore (Men's Swimming)
The Red Devils (4-1, 8-2) and the Garnet (3-1, 4-1) square off in a meet that could determine first place in the Conference. Dickinson would share the dual-meet title with Gettysburg, should the Bullets drop their season finale at Franklin & Marshall. Swarthmore would also need a win vs. Washington next Wednesday to share the crown.

Gettysburg at Franklin & Marshall (Women's Swimming)
The best swimming rivalry in the Conference is renewed Saturday at the Kunkel Aquatic Center as the Bullets (6-0, 7-2) and Diplomats (6-0, 7-4) meet for the dual-meet title. Gettysburg's Maggie Mulderrig will need a big meet in the freestyle sprints to offset F&M's Olivia Hill in the freestyle distances.

Five-Star Matchups

Groundhog Day 2011 has brought the entire gamut of weather to our region - snow, ice, rain - but the hearty Centennial folk are still in action tonight with a host of key matchups.

Dickinson at Gettysburg (Men's Swimming)
It's a battle for first place in the dual-meet standings tonight at the site of the 2011 Centennial championship as the Red Devils (4-0, 8-1) meet the Bullets (4-0, 6-1). The top races may take place in the freestyle sprints between Dickinson's Jason Adams and Gettysburg's Matt Libby. Adams has the top time in the 50 (21.51) and is second in the 100 (47.26), while Libby is tops in the 100 (46.29) and second in the 50 (21.55).

McDaniel at Dickinson (Men's Basketball)
Two of the surprise teams in the Conference meet in Carlisle with hopes of improving their playoff chances. The Green Terror (8-4 CC, 11-8) was picked to finish eighth in the Centennial's preseason poll, while the Red Devils (9-10, 7-5) were slotted at number nine. Dickinson won the first meeting, 54-50, coming back from an eight-point halftime deficit and looks for its first season sweep of McDaniel since 2002.

Gettysburg at Johns Hopkins
Muhlenberg at Swarthmore (Women's Basketball)
The playoff race on the women's side may become a little clearer when the dust settles tonight in Baltimore and Swarthmore. The Blue Jays (13-2, 16-3) can clinch a berth in the five-team field with a win tonight and losses by Swarthmore and Ursinus, while the Bullets (9-5, 14-5) can improve their chances for a first-round tourney bye with a win. Hopkins captured a 59-52 decision on Dec. 2 and is 13-3 vs. the Bullets at Goldfarb Gym since 1994. The Mules (9-4, 13-5) have won eight straight from the Garnet (8-6, 12-7), following an 86-67 victory in the year's first meeting, and hold a 45-7 all-time series lead. Swarthmore has not defeated 'Berg at Tarble since 2005. Garnet senior Kathryn Stockbower needs one more double-double to tie the Conference and NCAA Division III record of 79, held by Julie Anderson of Johns Hopkins '98.

Five-Star Matchups

As a snowy January draws to a close, the games start to heat up in the Conference as basketball teams begin to jockey for playoff position, and swimmers and wrestlers prepare for championship time.

Johns Hopkins at Muhlenberg (Women's Basketball)
The first and second-place teams in the Conference meet in a rematch of their overtime clash on Jan. 17. The Blue Jays (12-2 CC, 15-3) held off the Mules (9-3, 13-4), 86-75, as Chantal Mattiola poured in a career-high 24 points. 'Berg's Alexandra Chili scored 27 of her game-high 32 points in the second half. Hopkins has not won at Memorial Hall since 2005 (0-7) - the last time that JHU swept the season series.

Dickinson at Ursinus (Women's Basketball)
Franklin & Marshall at Haverford (Women's Basketball)
These two games are critical for the playoff chances of all four teams. The Bears (8-5, 11-6) and the Diplomats (8-5, 10-8) can go a long way to securing a spot in the five-team field with wins. The Red Devils (5-8, 7-10) and the Fords (5-8, 8-10) can ill afford another CC loss and, with victories, can get right back in the playoff chase. Ursinus defeated Dickinson, 44-33, on Dec. 11 behind a 13-point, 12-rebound effort from Lindsay Teuber. The Bears look for their first season sweep of the Devils and their first home win against the Red since 2002. The Fords are also looking for their first-ever sweep of the Diplomats, following a 53-39 win on Dec. 11 as Nina Voith had a double-double with 21-13.

McDaniel at Washington College (Men's Basketball)
The Green Terror (6-4, 9-8) looks to set some program marks when it visits the "House of Cain" and the Shoremen (5-6, 6-12). McDaniel has already defeated Washington twice this season and a third victory would be a program first. Also, the Terror has lost 17 straight times in Chestertown since an 84-80 win back in 1982. The Shoremen need to hold (home)court in their quest to return to the Centennial playoffs.

Swarthmore at Gettysburg (Men's Swimming)
The two remaining CC unbeatens meet at Bullets Pool with first-place in the dual-meet standings on the line. The Garnet (3-0, 5-0) is led by sophomore Daniel Duncan, while the Bullets' (3-0, 5-1) Matt Libby may be the best sprinter in the Conference with the Centennial's top times in the 100 and 200 free and second-best time in the 50.

Ursinus, Stevens at Merchant Marine (Wrestling)
The three undefeated teams in the Conference dual-meet standings square off at Kings Point on Sunday. Merchant Marine (2-0, 8-2), the three-time defending Centennial champ, is ranked 11th nationally and has three wrestlers among the top 10 in their respective weight classes - 165 Vincent Renaut (4th), 174 Justin Diesel (7th) and 285 Judd Connell (3rd) - while Stevens 141 Ryan Bridge is ranked 6th. Matches to watch include 157 between USMMA's Dan Twito (7-2) and Stevens' Leo Dormann (19-8); 174 between Diesel (17-1) and the Ducks' Ryan Dormann (25-2) and 184 between Ursinus' Nate Murran (19-6) and the Mariners' Erik Schott (18-3).

McElligott Invitational (Track and Field)
One of the premier meets of the indoor season takes place Saturday at Haverford - the site of the 2011 CC Championship. Athletes to watch include Haverford's Tim Schoch, Eric Arnold (mile) and Christina Neilson (400); Swarthmore's Chelsea Hicks (55, triple jump); and Ursinus' Jordan Grannum (55, 200) and Amanda Laurito (55).

Five-Star Matchups

Swarthmore at Ursinus (Women's Basketball)
The Garnet (6-5 CC, 10-6) looks for a season sweep against the Bears (7-4, 10-5) in a showdown between teams headed the wrong way in the Conference standings. Both Swarthmore and Ursinus have dropped two in a row and look for a win to right the ship. The Garnet defeated the Bears, 70-62, back on Dec. 4 as Ceylan Bodur tossed in 17 points. Swarthmore has not swept Ursinus in a season set since 2005, but leads the all-time series 64-22.

Johns Hopkins at Ursinus (Wrestling)
The Blue Jays (1-0, 4-8) and the Bears (0-0, 4-0) meet in Collegeville in an early-season test. Ursinus is undefeated against Hopkins since the inception of the Conference in 1994. Nate Murren leads the Bears with a 17-6 record at 184. Pat Stanley has a 14-3 record at 174 for the Jays.

McDaniel at Franklin & Marshall (Men's Basketball)
The Green Terror (6-3, 9-7) and the Diplomats (7-2, 12-4) meet in a first-place showdown in Lancaster. The home team has won each of the last six meetings between the teams and McDaniel, fresh from a 61-53 win vs. F&M on Jan. 11, looks for its first season sweep since 2008. Keep an eye on the guards - F&M's Georgio Milligan (17.1) and McDaniel's Devon Lesniak (15.3).

Haverford at Gettysburg (Men's Basketball)
The Fords (6-3, 9-6) look for their first-ever season sweep of the Bullets (6-3, 9-7) when they visit the Battlefield. Haverford defeated Gettysburg 65-55 back on Dec. 4 but has never beaten the Orange and Blue at Bream Gym. Two of the CC's most dynamic scorers take the floor in Haverford's Cam Baker (18.1) and Gettysburg's Andrew Powers (20.4).

Five-Star Matchups

It's "Rivalry Night" in the Conference, as the schedule-maker set up showdowns between some of the fiercest rivals in the Centennial. We'll keep an eye on the fiercest - Haverford at Swarthmore - but here are the three biggest games of the night.

Muhlenberg at Ursinus (Women's Basketball)
It's the 63rd time that the Mules (6-3, 10-4) and the Bears (7-3, 10-4) have met on the hardwood with Muhlenberg holding a 35-27 overall lead, including four straight wins. Ursinus has not won at Helfferich since a 67-65 overtime win in 2007. Both teams are a game behind front-running Johns Hopkins in the loss column and would keep their hold on second place with a victory. Alexandra Chili of the Mules leads the CC in scoring (21.3), while the Bears' Lindsay Teuber averages a double-double with 12.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.

Dickinson at Franklin & Marshall (Men's Basketball)
The Red Devils (5-3, 7-8) play host to the Diplomats (6-2, 11-4) in the 167th edition of their rivalry. F&M swept the season set a year ago to stop a Dickinson run of four wins in five games and take a 102-64 all-time advantage. The Diplomats are tied for first place with Gettysburg, while Dickinson is in a three-way tie for third with Haverford and McDaniel. F&M senior James McNally needs two points tonight to become the program's all-time leading scorer. Matt Dolan leads the Devils in scoring (14.1) and rebounding (8.1).

Gettysburg at McDaniel (Men's Basketball)
It's the Route 97 rivalry tonight in Westminster as the first-place Bullets (6-2, 9-6) travel to take non the third-place Green Terror (5-3, 8-7). Just over 20 miles separate these two rivals who meet for the 102nd time since 1917. Gettysburg has won four consecutive meetings and holds a 73-28 advantage. McDaniel's last win was a 56-53 triumph at home in 2009. The Bullets' Andrew Powers is having his best season as a collegian, ranking fourth in the CC in scoring (19.8), seventh in rebounding (6.7) and sixth in assists (2.9). Devon Lesniak leads the Terror in scoring (14.3).

Get links to live video, audio and stats at www.centennial.org

Five-Star Matchups

On this Martin Luther King day, we pause to reflect on the message of a great American and how we can better ourselves. This evening, the Conference's top six women's basketball teams will square off in an attempt to better improve their Centennial standing. Can't make it to the gym tonight? Join us online for a live blog beginning at 6:45. We'll provide "live look-ins," take your questions and add our comments at the window below.

Muhlenberg at Johns Hopkins
The Mules (6-2 CC, 10-3) travel to the Charm City to meet the Blue Jays (8-2, 11-3) in one of the top rivalries in the Conference. Hopkins holds an 18-15 all-time lead in the series and snapped a 10-game losing streak to 'Berg with a 73-66 win at Goldfarb last season. The two teams have met nine times in the postseason since 1996 with the Jays winning five. The Blue Jays have held consecutive opponents under 40 points for the first time since 2005-06. The first 20 minutes could tell the story - Hopkins is 11-1 when leading at the half, while Swarthmore is 9-1.

Ursinus at Franklin & Marshall
The Bears (7-2, 10-3) head to Lancaster to take on the Diplomats (6-3, 8-6), looking for a season sweep of F&M after a 60-55 victory on Nov. 30. Sarah Martin led Ursinus with 16 points, while Lindsay Teuber had a double-double with 10 points and 13 boards. Megan Pauley led the Diplomats with 20 markers. Since the formation of the Centennial in 1994, this series is tied at 12 wins apiece. A close game favors the Bears, who are 5-1 this season in games decided by five points or less.

Swarthmore at Gettysburg
The Garnet (6-3, 10-4) is on the road to the Battlefield to square off against the Bullets (5-4, 10-4). Gettysburg has won 10 in a row from Swarthmore and has not lost at home to the Garnet since 2004 (6-0). Garnet senior Kathryn Stockbower has 75 career double-doubles and is four shy of the Conference and NCAA Division III record of 79, set by Johns Hopkins' Julie Anderson. Stockbower and Gettysburg's Caitlin Moser are 1-2 among active CC players in career scoring and rebounding.

Five-Star Matchups

Welcome to the first edition of "Five-Star Matchups" for 2011. Conference play resumes in full force on Saturday and here are the games to watch.

Dickinson at Haverford (Men's Basketball)
The surprising Red Devils (4-1 CC, 6-6) look to tighten their hold on second place in the CC when they visit the Main Line to play the Fords (3-2, 6-5). Haverford has won four straight in the series and 15 of 24 since the inception of the Conference. Dickinson's last win at Gooding Arena was in 2008 (51-50). The Devils' Matt Dolan ranks in the CC top 10 in scoring (14.4) and rebounding (8.3), as does the Fords' Sam Permutt (15.8, 9.2).

Ursinus at Johns Hopkins (Women's Basketball)
The first-place Blue Jays (6-0, 9-1) welcome the Bears (5-2, 8-3) to Goldfarb Gym, looking to extend their nine-game winning streak. Hopkins has not lost since its opening game and has won five in a row versus Ursinus. The Bears have not won in Baltimore since 1995 (74-70) - a stretch of 15 games. Although JHU is second in the Conference in scoring offense (68.3), expect a low-scoring contest, as the Jays (46.0) and Bears (48.7) are 1-2 in the Centennial in scoring defense.

Swarthmore at Franklin & Marshall (Women's Basketball)
The Garnet (4-1, 8-2) finds itself tied for second place in the Conference but faces a road challenge against the Diplomats (4-2, 6-5). Swarthmore registered its first-ever season sweep of F&M last winter, including an 88-83 overtime win that snapped a seven-game losing streak at Mayser Center. Kathryn Stockbower is second in the CC in scoring (17.4) and first in rebounding (13.6) for the Garnet, while the Diplomats are second in the Conference in field goal percentage defense (.328). Watch LIVE!

Gettysburg vs. Washington and Lee (Wrestling)
The Conference dual-meet schedule gets underway as the Bullets (0-0, 1-1) tangle with the Generals (0-0, 1-0). The day's best match could come at 165 between Gettysburg's Dan Grabfelder (13-8, 8 falls) and W&L's David Dennis (8-5). Freshman 174 Jared Leon has the Bullets' top record at 16-7, while rookie 197-pounder Jordan Yost leads W&L with a 7-2 mark.

Championship Weekend

The biggest weekend of the fall season is upon us - Championship Weekend. To the winner goes the spoils ... the championship trophy and a trip to the NCAA championship tournament. To the losers, it's wait-and-see if an at-large invitation is forthcoming to the NCAAs. It's high drama on the Centennial's biggest stage!

Field Hockey
Can Ursinus make it seven titles in a row? Or is this the year that Johns Hopkins, Haverford and Washington College will break the streak? The tournament takes place in Collegeville for the eighth straight season and everyone is chasing the third-ranked Bears. Ursinus (16-1) takes on the Shorewomen (9-9) in the first semifinal, while the Blue Jays (11-6) and the Fords (12-4) meet in the nightcap. UC is 12-1 in its eight CC tournament appearances with 12 straight wins since a 1-0 loss to Hopkins in the 2003 semifinals. Washington is winless in four trips to the semis. The Jays are making their 10th trip to the CC tourney and are 8-1 in semifinal contests and 11-7 overall. Haverford is making its second straight trip to the semis, looking for its first-ever appearance in the final. Championship website

Soccer (W)
The Johns Hopkins Class of 2011 looks to join the JHU classes of 2009 and 2010 in winning Centennial championships in all four seasons. The Blue Jays have won five straight crowns and take on Haverford in the semifinals in Carlisle. Top-seeded Dickinson plays host to Ursinus in the opener. The Red Devils (14-2-1) have won all four tournament games prior to the final in their history, but are 0-3 in title matches. Ursinus looks to get back to the final for the first time since 2005. The Bears (10-6-1) are dangerous historically in penalty kicks, winning all three matches decided by PKs. Hopkins (15-3) has a 14-3 CC tourney record, including an 8-1 mark in semifinals. Haverford (12-5) has yet to win a tournament match in five outings. Championship website

Soccer (M)
For the longest time, Centennial titles in even-numbered years belonged to Johns Hopkins. The Jays won CC championships in 1996-98-00-02-04-06, but were denied in 2008 by Swarthmore. It is the showcase match of Saturday's semifinals at Clothier Field, as the top-seeded Garnet takes on Hopkins ... which won the '09 title. Swat (14-1-2) is 2-4 all-time in the tourney, while JHU (13-3-3) is 13-4, including a 7-1 mark in semis. The opener pits Franklin & Marshall and Muhlenberg. The Mules (10-1-6) have won two Centennial titles, but have not been to the final since 2005, and have a 4-7 mark all-time in the tourney. The Diplomats (9-3-3) are 2-4 all-time and look for a trip to the title match for the first time since 2006. Championship website

Volleyball
The road to the Centennial championship goes through Haverford, as the four-time defending Conference titlists welcome Hopkins, F&M and Swarthmore to the Main Line. The Fords (18-12) are riding an eight-match CC tourney win streak and meet the Garnet (18-10) in Saturday's opening semifinal. Swarthmore, fresh off its second straight first-round win, looks to advance to its first-ever Centennial final. The nightcap pits the Blue Jays (19-11) and the Diplomats (20-6) in the sixth-ever playoff meeting between the teams. F&M holds a 4-1 playoff advantage and a 21-12 all-time lead, but Hopkins won the regular-season clash in straight sets. The Jays look to return to the final for the first time since 2004, while the Diplomats have not been to the title match since 2006. Championship website

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.