MAC Soccer Tournaments

Men - Tuesday, November 2

Freedom

#4 Misericordia at #1 DeSales 2 PM
#3 Fairleigh Dickinson - Florham at #2 Eastern 2 PM

Commonwealth

#4 Lebanon Valley at #1 Messiah 7 PM
#3 Arcadia at #2 Elizabethtown 7 PM

Women - Wednesday, November 3

Freedom

#4 Misericordia at #1 Fairleigh Dickinson - Florham 4 PM
#3 Manhattanville # #2 Eastern 2 PM

Commonwealth

#4 Alvernia at #1 Messiah 7 PM
#3 Lebanon Valley at #2 Arcadia 3 PM

Championships on Saturday, November 6

Admission:

Adults $5
Seniors $4
Students $2
Under 6 free

Results at gomacsports.com


In MAC cross country championships at Delaware Valley, home favorite Caitlin Dorgan won her 7th straight race to earn DVC's first individual women's title. Charlie Larsen of Elizabethtown crossed the line first for the Elizabethtown harriers as they marked five of the top six scorers to walk away with the team title. The Elizabethtown women also cruised to another championship. Next in line are regionals on November 13, hosted by Carnegie Mellon.

In football on Saturday #8 Delaware Valley (5-0) ran past King's (0-5) to remain in first place. Wilkes (4-1) took over sole possession of second by handing Lycoming (3-2) their second loss in as many weeks. Lebanon Valley (3-2) outlasted Widener (2-3) to claim a share of third place with the Warriors and Albright (3-2), winners over FDU (0-5).

Saturday Delaware Valley hosts the MAC cross country championships with the men’s race at 11 AM and the women at Noon. Many of the recent championships have been in very wet or windy conditions, but this year the weather should be perfect. Awards will be presented in the gym at 1:30. Three different teams (Elizabethtown, DeSales, and Messiah) have won the last men’s championships, but the Blue Jays hope to repeat this year after beating Messiah by just four points in 2009. The Elizabethtown women are looking to win their fourth straight championship after topping Messiah by 19 points last year. 15 of the top 20 men’s finishers from 2009 return this year with Messiah’s Tyler Newhook hoping to retain his title. Eric Reichert of Elizabethtown may be his main threat. For the women, Caitlin Dorgan (DVC), last year’s runner up, has won all six of her races this fall. Jenn Cronin of Lebanon Valley (3rd in 2009 MAC’s), should be right of Dorgan’s heels. Eleven other women return from last season top twenty. Regionals are on November 13 in Slippery Rock, Pa. (hosted by Carnegie Mellon); the Division III championships are November 20 at Wartburg College (Iowa).

Here are the 2010 pairings for the semi-finals (at 7 PM on Wednesday, November 3) of the MAC volleyball tournaments.

Freedom

#4 DeSales at #1 Eastern

#3 Misericordia at #2 Fairleigh Dickinson - Florham

Commonwealth

#4 Widener at #1 Elizabethtown

#3 Messiah at #2 Lebanon Valley

Championship on Saturday, November 6 at site of highest remaining seed.

Admission

$5 Adults
$4 Seniors
$2 Students
Under 6 free

Results: gomacsports.com

Pairings for MAC field hockey tournaments – semi-finals on Wednesday, November 3:

Freedom Conference

Delaware Valley at Eastern 2:30 PM

Fairleigh Dickinson – Florham at King’s 4 PM

Commonwealth Conference

Alvernia at Messiah 4 PM

Elizabethtown at Lebanon Valley 3:30 PM

Championships on Saturday, November 6 at site of highest remaining seed.

Ticket prices:

Adults $5
Seniors $4
Students $2

Results: gomacsports.com

The much anticipated game for first place in the MAC did not turn out to be close as Delaware Valley shutout Lycoming. Lycoming now must defend their position in second place as they head to Wilkes. By beating the second place teams (Lycoming and Wilkes are both 3-1 in the MAC) the last two weeks, DVC is almost guaranteed the conference championship. The Aggie defense has not given up any points in the last six quarters of play. They host winless, but competitive King’s this Saturday. The Monarchs relinquished a lead late in the game against LVC, their fifth close loss. LVC hosts Widener, both at 2-2, with the winner moving into a tie for third place. The fourth game pits Albright at FDU; a win for the Lions will put them in a three way tie for third.

Much is on the line for MAC field hockey programs this week as 10 or 16 teams have a mathematical chance to qualify for the two tournaments. On the Commonwealth side, Messiah is the top seed. If Lebanon Valley tops Elizabethtown, they are the two seed; if the result is reversed, the Blue Jays take the #2 spot and the Dutchmen are #3. If Alvernia defeats Albright, they are the #4 seed. Should the Crusaders stumble against the Lions, Widener can get the #4 spot by beating LVC and Arcadia. For the Freedom, Eastern is a lock for #1 and King’s for #2. If Delaware Valley, Misericordia, and FDU all end up 4-3, these are the tie breakers: DVC loses by two goals or less, they are #3 and Misericordia is #4; Aggies lose by three goals or more, Misericordia is #3 and FDU is #4. If DVC and Misericordia tie at 4-3, DVC is #3 and the Cougars are #4; If DVC and FDU tie at 4-3, the Devils are #3 and the Aggies take #4.

Men’s soccer teams also have much to play for as 11 or 16 teams can still qualify for the tournaments. Messiah and Elizabethtown will be the two hosts for the semi-final games, with Arcadia visiting one site. If Messiah defeats Elizabethtown in the end-of-season show down, they will be the top seed. Lebanon Valley is the #4 seed unless they lose or tie with both Messiah and Widener and Alvernia knocks off Arcadia. The Freedom side is more contentious as four teams are battling for two spots; Eastern and DeSales will host the semi-final games. If FDU beats Eastern at home, they are #3, and if Misericordia, King’s, and Manhattanville all tie (10 points), Manhattanville is #4. If FDU, Misericordia, King’s, and Manhattanville all tie (10 points), Manhattanville is #3 and Misericordia #4. If FDU, Misericordia, and King’s tie, Misericordia is #3 and King’s is #4. If Misericordia and King’s tie, Misericordia has the head-to-head win and is seeded higher.

In women’s soccer the semi-finals hosts are set with Messiah and Arcadia in the Commonwealth and Eastern at FDU in the Freedom. After that, there are four teams in each conference trying to get the last two tournament spots. In the Commonwealth, if LVC beats Widener, LVC is in; if they defeat Messiah, they have to tie Widener and have Alvernia tie or lose. If Alvernia (ties Arcadia) and LVC tie (defeat Widener), Alvernia has the head-to-head win and goes ahead of the Dutchmen. On the Freedom side, if Delaware Valley (plays Manhattanville) and Misericordia win (play Wilkes), the Aggies are the 3rd seed and Valiants #4.

One of the biggest football games of the week in Division III is in our backyard. Lycoming (3-0, 5-1) heads to #9 Delaware Valley (3-0, 5-1) for a homecoming showdown for first place in the MAC. The Aggies only loss was a close game to #3 Wesley while the Warriors were topped by Rowan (just missed the top 25 this week) in the first game of the year by a touchdown. With such close records, some wonder why Lycoming is not getting more respect in the national poll. On paper they have many of the same characteristics. Lycoming leads the conference in scoring with 32.5 PPG, and DVC is a close second at 32.3; on scoring defense, the Aggies give up 11 PPG while the Warriors hold the opposition to 14.8. They sport the two top rushing offenses in the conference with Lycoming grinding out 219.8 YPG and DVC 210.5. The two top MAC rushers are responsible for most of those yards – Josh Kleinfelter (Lycoming) averages 165.8 and Matt Cook (DVC) checks in at 118.3. Something has to give as the two rushing defenses are also tops in the league (DVC giving up 72.7 yards and Lycoming 76.8). Perhaps the only point where one team has a statistical advantage is in the passing game – at DVC’s Mark Hatty throws for 217 yards a game (243.7 for the team) while Lycoming only gains 156 passing yards a game. More importantly, the DVC defense is tops against the pass while Lyco ranks 5th in the MAC. Stats are one thing and the game is another – should be great weather (the last three meetings between these teams have been in adverse conditions) and a spectacular college football game!

In other games Wilkes (2-1, 3-3) travels to FDU (0-3, 3-3) as both teams try to rebound from disappointing losses last weekend. Wilkes could not hold onto a half time lead or take advantage of eight DVC turnovers; the Devils were up 21-7 to LVC but collapsed coming down the stretch. FDU’s Matt Jeffers is second in the MAC in total offense with 218.8 YPG. The Colonel’s Jordan D’Emilio is second in the conference with 5.2 pass receptions per game. FDU has the third ranked pass offense but will face Wilkes third ranked pass defense. FDU has not had much luck running the ball, and the Wilkes defense gives up more rushing yards than any other MAC team.

Lebanon Valley (1-2, 2-4) heads up I-81 to visit King’s (0-3, 0-6). The LVC offense counts on Ben Guiles (MAC 3rd leading rusher) to lead the ground game, and the Monarch defense is only 7th in stopping the run. The King’s pass defense is 2nd in the conference and the Dutchmen have been inconsistent in the passing game. If King’s is going to win, they need Corey Lavin to have a big day passing – his 192.3 a game is second to DVC’s Mark Hatty.

The last game features Albright (1-2, 3-3) at Widener (2-1, 3-3). The Lions can score and move the ball as they are 2nd in the conference in total yards (388) and 3rd in points scored (30.2). The Pride exhibits prowess on the other side of the ball as their “D” is ranked 3rd in points allowed (23.2) and yards allowed (291.3). The winner still has a shot at getting an ECAC Bowl bid.

Today is the showdown in field hockey between the two best teams in the country - #1 Lebanon Valley and #2 Messiah in Annville at 4 PM. How often do the two top teams in the country play a regular season game in the same conference? While this game is important for the Commonwealth standings, inevitably these two schools will meet at least one more time, and possibly twice before a Division III national champion is determined!

The four teams are set for the Commonwealth volleyball tournament. The big match next week pits LVC at Elizabethtown. Here are the tie-breaking scenarios for the final standings:

Elizabethtown wins; Messiah and Widener both win or lose

1 Elizabethtown, 6-1
2 LVC, 6-1
3 Messiah, 5-2 (4-3)
4 Widener, 5-2 (4-3)

LVC, Messiah, and Widener win

1 LVC, 7-0
2 Messiah, 5-2
3 Widener, 5-2
4 Elizabethtown, 5-2

The Freedom is much dicier as six teams have a shot. The only given is that Eastern has the #1 seed!

Eastern, Misericordia (or loses to Wilkes 3-2), FDU, and DeSales win

1 Eastern, 7-0
2 FDU, 5-2
3 Misericordia, 5-2 (or 4-3)
4 DeSales, 4-3

Eastern, FDU, DeSales, and Wilkes (must win 3-0 or 3-1 over Misericordia) win

1 Eastern, 7-0
2 FDU, 5-2
3 DeSales, 4-3
4 Wilkes, 4-3

DVC, Wilkes (must win 3-0 or 3-1 over Misericordia), DeSales, and Manhattanville win

1 Eastern, 6-1
2 FDU, 4-3
3 DeSales, 4-3
4 Wilkes, 4-3

Wilkes and DVC win, DeSales loses

1 Eastern, 6-1
2 FDU, 5-2 (4-3)
3 DVC
4 Wilkes