Centennial Conference Tournament Website

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – There won't be any cannon fire or trumpet calls, but that doesn't mean this weekend's battle at Gettysburg College will be any less dramatic as four teams converge on Clark Field for the 2012 Centennial Conference Women's Lacrosse Championships.

By virtue of its perfect record in conference play, Gettysburg (15-1, 9-0 CC) will serve as the host of the conference tournament for the fifth time since 2003. Joining the Bullets in the postseason are Franklin & Marshall College (13-3, 8-1 CC), Washington College (10-5, 6-3 CC), Ursinus College (9-7, 5-4 CC), and Swarthmore College (11-6, 5-4 CC).

The playoffs officially start on Wednesday, April 25, as Swarthmore visits Usinus at 7 p.m. The winner will draw top seed Gettysburg in the first semifinal contest on Saturday, April 28, at 1 p.m. at Clark Field. Franklin & Marshall, the No. 2 seed, and Washington meet at 3:30 on Saturday. Sunday's championship game will take place at 1 p.m. The winner of the tournament will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Gettysburg and Franklin & Marshall have dominated tournament play, combining for each of the last 10 titles. The Bullets and Diplomats have also squared off in the championship game nine consecutive seasons.

Despite the odds being in their favor, both Gettysburg and F&M can expect strong tests from the rest of the field. Washington kept pace with the two national powers during the regular season, while Ursinus trailed Gettysburg by just one of halftime of their affair on April 7.

“With each year there is more and more parity in the conference and that was clearly demonstrated this season with several of the final regular season games having significant importance for tournament selection and seeding,” said Gettysburg coach Carol Cantele. “It was a dog fight all the way through.”

Franklin & Marshall has won each of the last five titles, all at Gettysburg's expense.  Each of the last two finals has been decided by one goal, including the last time it was hosted at Clark Field in 2010.

In addition to Cantele, the tournament will feature three Gettysburg graduates and former lacrosse All-Americans. Washington' Julika Blankenship '03 and Ursinus' Katie Hagan '07 each led Gettysburg to three conference titles during their respective tenures in orange and blue.

“It is awesome,” noted Cantele in reference to her former pupils. “I am so happy for Coach Blankenship and Coach Hagan. They are doing a great job at their respective institutions and their kids play hard for them. They both have programs of great integrity and with student-athletes that are committed and well prepared.”

In conference play, Gettysburg out-scored its opposition by nearly 11 goals per game. That doesn't mean the Bullets can go into the weekend riding a cloud of confidence, however. The best team going into the postseason isn't always the team that wins it all.

“Everyone is going to make mistakes here and there, especially when there is so much on the line,” said Cantele,” but the team that makes the fewest mistakes, sticks to their game plan and fights to the finish is the team that will come out on top.”

Team Previews

Gettysburg College
Season Record: 15-1 Overall, 9-0 CC
Head Coach: Carol Cantele (Gettysburg '83)
Coaching Record at Gettysburg: 282-89 (20th Season)
Career Coaching Record: 306-112 (24th Season)
CC Tournament Appearances: 12
CC Tournament Record: 16-6
CC Championships: 6

It's not surprising to see the defending national champs back in the postseason. Gettysburg has never missed the conference tournament since its start in 2002. In fact, the squad has never failed to reach the title game with a perfect 11-0 record in the semifinals. The team leads all institutions with six championships, but the last came six years ago. Gettysburg leads the CC in scoring (16.3 goals per game) and defense (7.00 GAA), while also ranking first in assists (7.6 apg), ground balls (21.6 gbpg), draw controls (14.9 dcpg), shots (34.6 spg), and save percentage (.541). Six Bullets have tossed in 20 or more goals, including returning All-American Hannah Church, who paces the team with 55 and is just six shy of 200 for her career. Junior Lindsey Robinson can score and create with an evenly distributed 30 goals and 30 assists, while sophomore Loren Pruitt has lit the lamp 42 times. Defensively, juniors Alex Casey and Hayward Sawers have combined for 80 ground balls and 38 caused turnovers. Senior Maddie Coleman is in the midst of a banner year and currently leads the Centennial in GAA (7.07) and save percentage (.555).

Franklin & Marshall College
Season Record: 13-3 Overall, 8-1 CC
Interim Head Coach: Missy Mariano (Middlebury '04)
Coaching Record at F&M: 1-1 (1st Season)
Career Coaching Record: 1-1 (1st Season)
CC Tournament Appearances: 12
CC Tournament Record: 14-6
CC Championships: 5

Like its arch-rival, Franklin & Marshall is in the Centennial Conference Tournament for the 12th consecutive season. The Diplomats have ruled the conference for the last five years, including one-goal victories over Gettysburg in the title game in each of the last two seasons. The team's three losses in the current campaign have come to teams ranked in the top four in the nation and it rebounded from its setback to Gettysburg with a victory over Dickinson to close the regular season. The Diplomats simply don't make many mistakes as they enter the postseason committing a conference-low 13.1 turnovers per game. Sophomores Caroline Krohn and Mary Mitchell pace the team with 39 and 32 points, respectively.  Each player tossed in three goals against Dickinson, with Krohn dishing out four assists as well. Sophomore Libby Nichols is one of the top defenders in the conference and paces F&M in both ground balls (37) and caused turnovers (23). Sophomore goalie Kelsey Hoffman has put up the second-best GAA in the conference at 8.87.

Washington College
Season Record: 10-5 Overall, 6-3 CC
Head Coach: Julika Blankenship (Gettysburg '03)
Coaching Record at Washington: 36-26 (4th Season)
Career Coaching Record: 36-26 (4th Season)
CC Tournament Appearances: 5
CC Tournament Record: 1-4
CC Championships: 0

Washington posted its highest regular-season finish in conference play since 2003 when it also placed third. The Shorewomen are in the tournament for the fifth time. They are 1-4 in the conference playoffs and have not advanced past the semifinals. Washington has shown it can hang with the big dogs this season as it trailed F&M by just one at halftime, while tying Gettysburg heading into the break of their match up. The Shorewomen also know how to grind out wins, with four of its last five CC decisions decided by three goals or less.  Six players have scored 20 or more goals with junior Corinne Ziccardi out in front with 40 tallies. She also has 15 assists, second on the team to junior Mollie Shipley's 17. Freshman Emily Hubley has hit for 27 goals and also leads the team with 14 caused turnovers. Junior Stephanie Seibert is the last line of defense for the Shorewomen. She owns a 10.64 GAA and has logged at least 10 saves in each of her last three outings, including a season-high 16 against the Bullets.

Ursinus College
Season Record: 9-7 Overall, 5-4 CC
Head Coach: Katie Hagen (Gettysburg '07)
Coaching Record at Ursinus: 9-7 (1st Season)
Career Coaching Record: 9-7 (1st Season)
CC Tournament Appearances: 9
CC Tournament Record: 4-8
CC Championships: 3

Ursinus trails only Gettysburg and Franklin & Marshall in conference tournament appearances and championships. The Bears were the last team other than Gettysburg and Franklin & Marshall to appear in the title game, finishing runner-up to the Bullets in 2002. Ursinus wrapped up the fourth seed by beating Muhlenberg 16-15 in the season finale. The decision came down to the final seconds with senior Emily Diehl tossing in the game-winner with only five ticks left. The team owned the tiebreaker for the fourth spot by virtue of a 16-9 win over Swarthmore on March 17. Senior Alyssa Thren lit up the Mules for five goals in the final game of the year. She easily paces the team with 49 tallies and she's one of the top performers off the draw in the CC with 61 draw controls. Diehl has dished out a team-best 23 helpers to go with 28 goals. Junior Elizabeth Chatburn is the team's top defender with 16 caused turnovers. Sophomore Riley Pembroke has seen the majority of time in the cage this season and has stopped nearly 48 percent of the shots she's seen on goal.

Swarthmore College
Season Record: 11-5 Overall, 5-4 CC
Head Coach: Karen Borbee (Delaware '84)
Coaching Record at Swarthmore: 190-140 (19th Season)
Career Coaching Record: 190-140 (19th Season)
CC Tournament Appearances: 2
CC Tournament Record: 0-1
CC Championships: 0

Swarthmore is the newest addition to the Centennial Conference Tournament. The team is making its first trip to the postseason since 2006. The Garnet's 11 victories this spring mark its best total since putting up the same number in 2007. Swarthmore clinched a berth in the playoffs by winning three of its last four games, including taking down rival Haverford 11-8 in the season finale. The Garnet boasts the second-best offense in the conference behind Gettysburg at 14.1 goals per game. Junior Annalise Penikis leads the CC “Triple Crown” offensive categories with 61 goals, 37 assists, and 98 points on the year. She has tallied nearly 30 more points than any other attacker in the conference. Penikis also leads the team in draw controls (52) and caused turnovers (20), while ranking second in ground balls (38). Sophomore Corinne Sommi has emerged as a full-field threat as well with 38 goals, 18 caused turnovers, and a team-best 43 ground balls. Defender Caroline Murphy is tied with Penikis for the team lead with 20 caused turnovers. Sophomore Michelle Ammerman minds the net for Swarthmore and has logged a GAA of 11.42 GAA this spring.