After a disappointing non-conference season record of 12-12, MAC football hits the conference schedule for the next seven weeks. Delaware Valley hosts Lebanon Valley in an early season bout between the two preseason favorites. The 12th ranked Aggies are the conference team to beat with their only blemish a 4th quarter loss to 3rd ranked Wesley. The Dutchmen need to win this game in order to stay in the hunt for a NCAA playoff spot as they have already lost to Gettysburg and Grove City. FDU is the only unbeaten MAC team (3-0) as they head to Widener (1-2) for a day of reckoning for both squads. With their best start since 1994, are the Devils a contender? Widener’s losses were against top Empire 8 teams; are they going to be in the mix in the MAC? After their upset of #13 Ithaca last week, Lycoming hosts winless King’s. The Warriors can’t take the Monarchs lightly as they lost to Bethany by 3 and William Paterson by 7 on fluke fumble return. King’s will have to stop Lyco’s Josh Kleinfelter who is now the Warriors 2nd all-time leading rusher. Albright (2-1) heads to Wilkes (1-2) to try out the new turf at Ralston Field. Albright needs this game to maintain their prowess as one of the MAC’s top teams the last couple of years; the Colonels want to return to the NCAA playoff hunt after an ECAC bowl game last year.

In the inaugural year for the MAC volleyball crossover tournament, there are several interesting match ups. Based on last year’s standings, two teams from each conference play each other. At Lebanon Valley, 5th ranked Eastern takes on perennial CC powers LVC and Elizabethtown. After a stinging defeat at Misericordia, DeSales hopes to get in the win column against the Dutchmen and Jays. Misericordia (2-1, 6-2) has to be the favorite in Williamsport as they face Albright (1-2, 3-10) and Lycoming (0-3, 6-8). King’s (0-3, 4-7) should have a shot at rebounding after their loss to cross town rival Wilkes on Wednesday. Messiah (3-0, 13-3) is having their best start in years and takes on FDU (1-2, 8-3) and Wilkes (3-0, 5-6). The Devils and Colonels may also have their hands full with Widener (2-1, 12-8). At the final site, Arcadia (0-3, 5-8) takes on an improved Delaware Valley squad (2-1, 6-8) and Manhattanville (0-3, 5-6). Alvernia (1-2, 3-5) is much improved and may pick up wins against the Aggies and Valiant’s.

It may be the first date for conference competition, but much is on the line for women’s soccer this weekend. All the Commonwealth teams have winning records against non-conference opponents. For the first time, LVC is regionally ranked but has a tall order as they host #1 ranked Messiah. The Falcons just surpassed Ohio Wesleyan with 61 consecutive wins. Two improved teams, Alvernia (8-2-1) and Lycoming (6-2), take on regular tournament participants as the Crusaders head to Elizabethtown (4-4-1) and the Warriors host Arcadia (8-2-1). On the Freedom side, the two top teams, Misericordia (8-1-1) and Eastern (6-2-1) tangle in Dallas.

MAC field hockey programs have an 87-50 record that inevitably includes losses against each other. Commonwealth teams all have winning records and an overall mark of 45-19. Three teams, Messiah, Eastern, and Lebanon Valley, are nationally ranked. After spanking Susquehanna 7-2 last night, the Dutchmen head to Eastern Mennonite; Eastern, who has played a phenomenal schedule, knocked off Rowan 3-2 yesterday and travels to Purchase for a Freedom match up with Manhattanville; Messiah head off to William Smith.

Two crossover games between top teams in men’s soccer this week favored the Commonwealth. A much improved Alvernia side proved their record is not a fluke with a 2-1 win over DeSales and the same occurred as Lebanon Valley prevailed over Misericordia by the same score. Nothing gets easier for any of the teams as conference play starts this weekend. The Dutchmen play nationally ranked Messiah (5th in one poll, 10th in another); Alvernia (6-1-1) and Elizabethtown (5-1-2) try to establish early conference dominance; DeSales (7-3) tangles with preseason favorite Manhattanville; and, Misericordia (7-3) attempts to maintain their conference championship ways (2009 and 2010) by denying (Eastern (4-3-1) an early foothold in the standings.