Four MAC teams advanced in ECAC action yesterday. Fairleigh Dickinson prevailed in two contests. The women’s soccer team hammered St. Joseph’s (LI) 4-0 and will play cross-street rival Drew at Stockton on Saturday. Volleyball knocked off Old Westbury 3-0 and will travel to Elmira on Saturday. Misericordia men’s soccer defeated regional foe Maywood 3-1 and head to Stevenson for a match against Grove City. And Alvernia women’s soccer, having their best season ever, held on to beat former PAC (now CSAC) opponent Cabrini 2-1. They hope to keep the party going as they play Frostburg on Saturday in western Md.

Although Delaware Valley (6-0, 8-1), the #8 nationally ranked and top ranked regional team, have sewn up the MAC, they want to protect their home field advantage in the NCAA tournament by winning the Keystone Cup over rival Widener (3-3, 4-5). For the Pride, a victory would be a great accomplishment (a winning record in the MAC and .500 overall) for first-year coach Isaac Collins. The other three games also have major impact on the MAC standings and ECAC bids. After winning four straight, Lebanon Valley (4-2, 5-4) needs to beat Albright (3-3, 5-4) at home to keep pace with Wilkes for 2nd place and to possibly get an ECAC Bowl Bid. If the Lions prevail, they would be guaranteed a tie for third, and maybe second, in the conference and move ahead of the Dutchmen for that possible ECAC opportunity. Wilkes (4-2, 5-4) has the inside edge on Albright and LVC for the ECAC bid, as they defeated both teams and face King’s (1-5, 1-8) in the Mayor’s Cup game. On paper, this rivalry may favor Wilkes, but the Monarchs, under first year coach Jeff Knarr, would love to build on their big win over FDU last week and end the season on a winning note. Lycoming (3-3, 5-4) is not ECAC eligible but want to rebound after three straight conference losses to stay in the mix for a possible third place finish. They travel to FDU (0-6, 3-6) who won their three opening non-conference games but have struggled in the MAC. One NCAA qualifier and two ECAC bowl games would be nice finish for the MAC after a sub-par .500 non-conference start.

The regional cross country meet is at Cooper’s Lake Campground in Slippery Rock. The #15 Elizabethtown men overwhelmed the MAC field two weeks ago by placing eight of the top ten finishers. Unless the wheels come off, they have the MAC’s best chance of qualifying a team for nationals. Messiah’s Tyler Newhook, the 2009 MAC champion, finished third this year and hopes to qualify as an individual; William Cooney, Misericordia, finished eight at Delaware Valley and hopes to extend his season next weekend at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. For the women, Elizabethtown also won the conference with 38 points, but are going to be more challenged than their counterparts to get to nationals. The big story for the women is how Caitlin Dorgan of Delaware Valley, winner of seven straight races, and MAC runner-up, Jenn Cronin, LVC, will finish out their careers.

For those of you tracking NCAA action:

On Friday:

Volleyball

Lebanon vs. Ithaca at Frostburg, 12:30 PM

Eastern vs. Richard Stockton at Christopher Newport, 3:30 PM

On Saturday:

Men’s Soccer

DeSales vs. Swarthmore at Swarthmore, 5 PM

Women’s Soccer:

Messiah vs. Manhattanville at Rowan, 11 AM

Field Hockey:

Lynchburg at Messiah, 11 AM

Lebanon Valley vs. SUNY Cortland at Bowdoin, 2 PM

Eastern vs.Stevens at Skidmore, 1 PM

On Sunday:

Men's Soccer

Montclair/New York Maritime at Messiah, 6 PM