Important Games Welcome Spring

Spring began at 7:44 a.m. on Friday morning and I can think of no better way to welcome in the new season than with nice weather ... and important games. Conference play begins in men's lacrosse and softball, while undefeateds clash in women's lacrosse.

Washington at McDaniel (Men's Lacrosse)
The ninth-ranked Shoremen (0-0 CC, 6-1) travel to Westminster to take on the Green Terror (0-0, 5-1) in what promises to be one of the games of the day in D-III. Washington has won eight in a row in the series since a 15-14 overtime loss in Chestertown in 2002 and holds an overall 33-4 lead. McDaniel's last win at Bair Stadium came the previous year (2001) - also by a 15-14 count. The two teams are ranked 1-2 in the Conference in scoring offense, defense and faceoff percentage. The game could come down to the play of the goalkeepers - Washington's Gordon Cohen (69.2 save pct.) and McDaniel's Kenny McHugh (59.3).

Gettysburg at Swarthmore (Women's Lacrosse)
It's an early-season clash of unbeatens as the Bullets (1-0, 5-0) visit Clothier Field to take on the Garnet (0-0, 5-0). Gettysburg is ranked sixth nationally and has won 14 in a row against Swarthmore. The Garnet's last win vs. the Bullets came in 1994 (12-7) at the Battlefield. Two of the CC's top scorers will be on display in Gettysburg's Hollis Stahl and Swat's Amy Vachal who each have 20 goals on the season.

Haverford at Muhlenberg (Women's Lacrosse)
Strange to say on the first day of spring ... but this one could have playoff implications come next month. The Fords (0-0, 6-0) are off to one of their best starts in program history, while the Mules (0-1, 3-1) made their first-ever appearance in the CC playoffs a year ago. Haverford holds a 9-6 series lead since the inception of the Conference in 1994 but 'Berg has won the last three contests. The Fords' Josie Ferri has ha an impressive start to her collegiate career (19-2-21), while Muhlenberg's Amanda McGovern (14-8-22) is one of the CC's top scorers.