WESTMINSTER, Md. – McDaniel will travel to Haverford, Pa.,
in search of its first Centennial Conference (CC) men's
lacrosse championship this weekend.
The fourth-seeded Green Terror (10-5, 4-4 CC) faces top-seeded
Haverford (12-2, 8-0 CC), ranked 10th in the latest
USILA Division III poll, in Friday's first semifinal at 1:30
p.m.
The day's second semifinal pits second-seeded Gettysburg
(11-3, 7-1 CC), ranked sixth in the latest USILA Division III poll,
against third-seeded Washington (Md.) (9-6, 4-4 CC) 45 minutes upon
the conclusion of the first semifinal.
The championship game will be held at Haverford on Sunday at 1
p.m.
The tournament's champion will earn the CC's automatic
bid to the 2009 NCAA Division III tournament, which begins on May
6. The field will be announced on Sunday night.
The Green Terror seeks its first conference title in its fifth
tournament appearance. It is the squad's first appearance in
the postseason since 2004.
In the regular-season meeting between the McDaniel and Haverford,
the Fords posted a 13-12 overtime victory in Westminster on Apr.
18.
Junior Gibbs Preston (Baltimore, Md./McDonogh)
leads the attack with 33 goals, 26 assists and 59 points. Senior
Mike Hatton (Corning, N.Y./Corning East) ranks
second on the team with 31 goals and 43 points. Senior Bill
Warner (Yardley, Pa./LaSalle) has added 22 assists while
freshman DJ Rickels (Forest Hill, Md./Boys Latin School of
Maryland) has contributed 21 goals.
Sophomore Matt Mummert (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern)
leads the defense with 49 grounds balls.
Senior Kenny McHugh (Westminster, Md./Calvert
Hall) has started all 15 games in goal and enters the
tournament with an 8.07 goals-against average and .550 save
percentage.
Sophomores Jed Barnes (Severna Park, Md./Severna
Park) and Matt Dean (Glen Burnie, Md./St. Vincent
Pallotti) have led the way at the faceoff “X”.
Barnes has won 72 of his 134 faceoffs (.537) while Dean has won 81
of 160 (.506).
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