Need a spot to take a look at everything that's happened in the past week and what's coming up this week? Let's take a quick look around the Patriot League during one of the busiest months of the year.
We'll start with football, where you probably know by now that Holy Cross won the League title and automatic playoff berth with a 28-26 win at Lafayette on Saturday. The Crusaders will try to earn sole possession of the title with a win at Bucknell, while the Leopards can still share the crown with a win at rival Lehigh and a Holy Cross loss on Saturday. Lafayette and Colgate, which finished its season at 9-2, are right in the mix for an at-large berth to the FCS playoffs. So even with the automatic bid decided, there's still plenty to figure out on the final Saturday and then on selection Sunday. We'll have the full football preview up on the website by Friday and go into more detail about playoff possibilites here on the blog tomorrow, but for now read the Patriot League Football Release with game previews and much more for Saturday.
In men's soccer, Bucknell won the Patriot League title over American, 1-0, on Sunday. The Bison are off to the NCAA Tournament, where they will open at Princeton on Thursday night. The Bison are on fire, so let's go out and get an NCAA win for the Patriot League over an Ivy opponent!
The only fall sport where a Patriot League title and automatic NCAA playoff berth is still at stake is volleyball, where top seed Army hosts No. 2 American, No. 3 Colgate and No. 4 Lehigh in the League Tournament beginning on Saturday. The semifinals are at 4 and 6 p.m., with the Championship set for Sunday at 4 p.m. To get ready for the Championship, read about the All-Patriot League team and major award winners as well as the Scholar-Athlete of the Year recipient.
Three fall sports came to an end last week. In field hockey, American fell to top-seed Maryland, 6-1, in the NCAA Tournament. The women's soccer NCAA result was not much better, with Colgate losing at Penn State, 5-0. The cross country season also came to an end as Patriot League teams competed at the NCAA Regionals.
With the end of the season usually comes good news on the academic front, and that was no different this year. Navy's Beth Reed was named the ESPN The Magazine Women's Soccer Academic All-American of the Year, and was joined on the Academic All-America squad by teammate Shelly Moeller and Army's Elizabeth Betterbed. Bucknell's Patrick Selwood and Army's Andrew Kydes earned Academic All-America honors on the men's side.
And that pretty much puts a wrap on the fall. Of course, we are now nearly a week into the basketball season as well. Nightly recaps and two full releases per week are available at the men's basketball and women's basketball home pages.
And there's still more to come!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Live-Blog from Lafayette/Holy Cross Football
The Patriot League Football Championship and automatic berth to the FCS postseason is on the line here in Worcester, with No. 20 Lafayette at No. 13/14 Holy Cross for all the marbles beginning at 12:30 p.m.. We'll provide live coverage here at the Gameday Blog, with score updates from the other Patriot League contests (Bucknell at No. 24 Colgate, Lehigh at Fordham and No. 4 Richmond at Georgetown).
FINAL: No. 13/14 Holy Cross 28, No. 20 Lafayette 26: In a great game, Holy Cross wins its first Patriot League title since 1991, and earns the Patriot League automatic bid to go to the FCS postseason for the first time since 1983. Crusaders will try to complete a perfect Patriot League season next week at Bucknell, while Lafayette, at 8-2 and 4-1 in the League, can stay in the at-large FCS playoff hunt with a win at rival Lehigh. For more information, go to the Patriot League website for a brief recap of the action, with a full synopsis coming later in the night.
FINAL SCORES: No. 24 Colgate beats Bucknell, 29-14, to finish the regular season at 9-2 overall and 4-2 in the Patriot League. Georgetown falls at home against Richmond, 49-10.
NCAA Field Hockey Tournament Update: Patriot League champion American falls at Maryland, 6-1, in the Round of 16. Eagles end season with a 12-9 record.
29 seconds left, 4th Quarter: Lafayette fumbles after a completed pass, and HC recovers! Crusaders are going to win....heading down for trophy ceremony.
44 seconds left, 4th Quarter: Holy Cross with a 4th and 15 at its the Lafayette 30....interesting decision coming up.
1:31 left, 4th Quarter: Leopards use their last timeout after stopping Randolph to a five-yard loss. 3rd and 15 at the 30.
1:37 left, 4th Quarter: Holy Cross now has a 2nd and 10 at the Lafayette 25...Leopards with one timeout left.
2:09 left, 4th Quarter: Randoph with the first down throw to Freddie Santana to the Lafayette 25. HC has a 1st and 10 there.
2:32 left, 4th Quarter: Holy Cross facing a 3rd and 4 at the Lafayette 39
3:58 left, 4th Quarter: Curley tries to get out of pressure on 4th and 10, and he's sacked by Holy Cross' Jimmy Thomas for a 17-yard loss all the way back to the Lafayette 45. Holy Cross will take over there with less than four minutes to play and a 2-point lead.
4:06 left, 4th Quarter: Low snap throws Lafayette off, and Curley's pass falls incomplete on 3rd and 10. Leopards will go for it on 4th down.
4:50 left, 4th Quarter: Lafayette now facing a 3rd-and-10 at the Holy Cross 36.
6:30 left, 4th Quarter: Curley with a first down pass to Greg Stripe to get into Holy Cross territory, it's a first and 10 Lafayette at the HC 35.
7:15 left, 4th Quarter: Curley goes on a QB rush up the middle, makes a few jukes and takes a tackler or two with him to the 43 yard line for anothe first down.
8;32 left, 4th Quarter: Leopards pick up a first down at their 26 yard line.
Score Update: Bucknell surprising No. 24 Colgate, 14-9, in the third quarter in Hamilton.
9:40 left, 4th Quarter: Holy Cross gets to the Lafayette 38, then elects to punt on a 4th and 7. Leopards with the ball at their own 15.
10:04 left, 4th Quarter: Sack and an incompletion leaves Holy Cross in trouble with a 3rd and 16 at the Lafayette 47.
11:15 left, 4th Quarter: Big return on the kickoff gives HC a drive start at its 45, and Randolph throws 14 yards to Charles McCall on first play to get the ball in Lafayette territory at the 41.
You can feel things getting tense even up here in the press box, with Holy Cross' lead at two with 11:32 to play. Remember, last year, Holy Cross won at Lafayette, 27-26, on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Randolph to Koster with six seconds to play. In that game, Lafayette also missed an extra point on its final touchdown with about two minutes left to allow Holy Cross to win instead of tie.
11:32 left, 4th Quarter: Score Update: Holy Cross 28, Lafayette 26: Leopards get back to within two points, as Curley throws a 14-yard touchdown on a slant to Mark Layton to make things very interesting in the final minutes here.
12:44 left, 4th Quarter: Leopards with another first down on a pair of runs by Maurice White. At the Holy Cross 15 trying to at least get back within a score.
13:43 left, 4th Quarter: Lafayette on the move, with a pair of first downs to the Holy Cross 29. One important note: Leopards have the wind at their back, and 40 of the 47 points in this game have been scored going in that direction.
End of 3rd Quarter: Holy Cross 28, Lafayette 19: Leopard defense steps up to keep the game in reach. Sacked Randolph on a 3rd and 3 play at the Holy Cross 27 to force a punt. Leopards will have a first down at their own 39 to begin the fourth quarter.
3:50 left, 3rd Quarter: Leopards can't take advantage of the turnover and great field possession. A pair of incompletions and no gain on a run results in a three-and-out. Holy Cross will take the ball at its 14 yard line.
4:49 left, 3rd Quarter: Talk about a quick change in momentum. Randolph throws to Edger, who can't control the ball and the bobble ends up in the hands of Lafayette's Mark Leggiero for an interception to give the Leopards the ball at the Holy Cross 40.
4:58 left, 3rd Quarter: Curley tries to find White on a 3rd and 3 play, but the pass is short and the Leopards are forced to punt. Momentum has completely swung in this game, so the Lafayette defense needs to step up now. HC will begin at its 36.
6:28 left, 3rd Quarter: Lafayette picks up a first down on its first set of downs. Leopards at their own 31 now.
PL Score Updates: We're at halftime of the other PL games. Lehigh and Fordham are tied, 28-28, in a turnover-filled game. No. 24 Colgate leads Bucknell, 9-7, and Georgetown trails No. 4 Richmond, 28-10.
7:22 left, 3rd Quarter: Score Update: Holy Cross 28, Lafayette 19: Holy Cross burns Lafayette on another third down, this time for a touchdown as Randolph finds Santana wide open down the middle of the field for a 40-yard touchdown pass on 3rd and 9. Again the extra points look huge, because it's a two-score game though Holy Cross has just one more touchdown than the Leopards.
8:38 left, third quarter: Randolph to Chmielinski for another 3rd-down conversion, this one for nine yards to the Lafayette 41.
10:00 left, third quarter: Crusaders pick up a first down on 3rd and 8, with Randolph throwing 12 yards to Chmielinski to the 46 yard line.
10:30 left, third quarter: After a hold, Crusaders pick up a first down at the 30 on a 2nd-and-14 play.
12:00 left, third quarter: And a big play by the Holy Cross defense stops Lafayette's drive. Curley tries to throw down the middle, but Anthony DiMichele is waiting for the interception and gives the Crusaders a drive start at their own 20.
13:10 left, third quarter: Leopards pick up another first down, with a gutsy play-action on 3rd and 1 going for a 28-yard gain into tight coverage to Mark Layton. Lafayette is already at the HC 30.
14:11 left, third quarter: Curley's pass is incomplete, but a pretty obvious defensive holding call on Holy Cross keeps Lafayette's posssession going to the 32.
14:45 left, third quarter: Lafayette with a third and eight at its own 22....key play with Holy Cross holding all the momentum right now.
15:00 left, third quarter: Interesting start to the second half....kickoff goes through the end zone, and Lafayette is forced to burn a timeout on first down play to begin their drive. Could be important late in the game.
Some score updates before we begin the second half in Worcester: Lehigh and Fordham tied, 21-21, and Bucknell surprising No. 24 Colgate, 7-6, with both games now late in the second quarter. Georgetown trails Richmond, 28-10, nearing halftime.
Be back on in about 15 minutes to get ready for the second half.
Halftime: Holy Cross 21, Lafayette 19: After Lafayette dominated the first quarter, this has turned into the shootout we all expected. Randolph and Curley are leading their teams down the field with regularity, so the team that can even come up with one stop on defense could be in great position. That's all it took for HC to turn a 19-7 deficit into a 21-19 lead. Lafayette's two missed extra points might play a role all game, because this one should be tied.
11 seconds left, 2nd Quarter: Score Update: Holy Cross 21, Lafayette 19: Randolph scores on the keeper to put the Crusaders on top for the first time today just before the half. Both teams have 3 TDs, so Lafayette's two missed extra points loom large right now. Leopards will receive to open the second half, so a big score for the Crusaders.
Score Updates: Other Patriot League games are tied in the 2nd quarter. Lehigh and Fordham knotted at 14-14, Bucknell and Colgate still scoreless.
15 seconds left, 2nd Quarter: Houghton shut down on a 2nd down carry....3rd and goal for the Crusaders at the 1 as they try to take the halftime lead.
50 seconds left, 2nd Quarter: Randolph throws to Koster down to the one yard line.
1:15 left, 2nd Quarter: Randolph with a first-down pass to Chmielinski followed by an 11-yard run by Houghton has a first-and-goal for the Crusaders at the 9.
2:10 left, 2nd Quarter: Screen pass to Gerald Mistretta just avoids disaster for Crusaders, but then goes for 20 yards to the Lafayette 31.
2:29 left, 2nd Quarter: Holy Cross starts at its own 49, down 19-14 here late in the 2nd quarter.
2:40 left, 2nd Quarter: Curley sacked by Mude Ohimor on a 3rd-and-3 play from the 27, pushing the ball back to 19. Holy Cross calls timeout in anticipation of punt and a chance to get closer or take the lead before the half.
4:21 left, 2nd Quarter: Score Update: Lafayette 19, Holy Cross 14: Unique formation to say the least, with the lineman lining up to the left and the play going to the right. It works though, as Randolph fires a 22-yard touchdown pass to Luke Chmielinski to answer Lafayette's touchdown in 27 seconds.
4:32 left, 2nd Quarter: Crusaders get going right away on offense, with a 38-yard gain from Randolph to Bill Edger to get it to the Lafayette 22.
With Lafayette cruising on offense and receiving to open the second half, Holy Cross really needs to make this a one-score game before halftime.
4:48 left, 2nd Quarter: Score Update: Lafayette 19, Holy Cross 7: White scores his second one-yard touchdown of the day for the Leopards, and this time the extra point is good to get the lead back up to 12 points.
5:58 left, 2nd Quarter: Leopards with a first and goal at the five on a nice play-fake by Curley and then a pass to a wide open Mark Layton, who fell to keep him from gaining even more yardage.
6:27 left, 2nd Quarter: Lafayette is in business to answer the Holy Cross score, with a screen pass to Jerome Randolph covering 40 yards all the way to the Crusader 32.
7:21 left, 2nd Quarter: Score Update: Lafayette 12, Holy Cross 7: Crusaders get on the board, as Randolph fakes the handoff to Houghton and then pitches back to Chmielinski coming around from behind for a four-yard touchdown. With the extra poitnt good, Lafayette leads by just five despite having two touchdowns to Holy Cross' one.
7:50 left, 2nd Quarter: Crusaders go to the wildcat and get the first down on a run to the 4, it will be a first and goal from there.
8:15 left, 2nd Quarter: Holy Cross with a 3rd-and-2 at the 8 after a pair of Houghton runs.
9:29 left, 2nd Quarter: Here comes the Crusader offense: 11-yard first down run by Eddie Houghton to the Lafayette 16.
10:12 left, 2nd Quarter: Holy Cross is moving now, with Randolph throwing to Freddie Santana for a first down to the Lafayette 42, and then another one to Chmielinski to the 27.
11:06 left, 2nd Quarter: Curley's fade to Bennett falls incomplete....Holy Cross starts at its own 32 yard line after a punt of only 22 yards.
11:40 left, 2nd Quarter: Leopards with a 3rd-and-8 at their own 46 yard line...could be a key play in the game the way the momentum is going now.
13:48 left, 2nd Quarter: Lafayette defense with another interception, as Randolph threw it right to Eric McGovern at the Lafayette 28 yard line. Leopards with the ball already up 12-0 and looking to put a lot of distance from the Crusaders here.
14:40 left, 2nd Quarter: Crusaders do pick up the 3rd-and-long, with Randolph throwing for 15 yards to Luke Chmielinski to the Lafayette 49.
End of 1st Quarter: Lafayette 12, Holy Cross 0: Holy Cross facing a big 3rd-and-7 from its own 34 when the second quarter begins, with the Leopards up 12-0 after a dominant first quarter.
Lafayette with touchdown drives of 82 and 75 yards here in the first quarter. Holy Cross needs to figure things out on defense, and the Crusader offense will need a score soon to make sure this one doesn't get out of hand.
1:21 left, 1st Quarter: Score Update: Lafayette 12, Holy Cross 0: Leopards finish their second big drive of the day, this one covering 75 yards, with a two-yard touchdown pass from Curley to Kevin Doty. But the extra point is no good again, so the Leopards leaving a few points out there.
1:26 left, 1st Quarter: Lafayette with a first-and-goal at the 2 after a pass interference call in the endzone.
2:41 left, 1st Quarter: Lafayette's offense looks almost unstoppable right now. Randolph to Stripe for nine yards followed by a 10-yard first down run by Maurice White to the Holy Cross 23, and then an 11-yard pass from Curley to Mark Layton has it all the way to the Holy Cross 12.
4:20 left, 1st Quarter: Leopards on the move again, picking up a first down with a 13-yard pass to Stripe out to the 46, and then another one with a 12-yard pass from Curley to Bennett to the Holy Cross 42.
6:30 left, 1st Quarter: Randolph throws high for Rob Koster on a 3rd-and-7, and the deflection is intercepted by Lafayette's Brandon Ellis. Leopards with a drive start at their own 25.
7:30 left, 1st Quarter: Crusaders with a big play on a 3rd-and-long, with Randolph throwing long to Bill Edger for a 42-yard gainer to the Lafayette 30.
8:22 left, 1st Quarter: Score Update: Lafayette 6, Holy Cross 0: The third time was the charm for Maurice White, who carried in to the endzone from one yard out on a third-and-goal play after getting stuffed on his first two carries. Bad snap leads to a missed extra point, however, so Lafayette's lead is only 6-0.
10:07 left, 1st Quarter: Lafayette is very close to taking the lead here. Curley throws into coverage to Mitchell Bennett, who makes a very nice catch and run for 34 yards to set up a first and goal at the 3.
11:20 left, 1st Quarter: Another nice gain for the Leopards, 15 yards from Rob Curley to Greg Stripe for another first down to the Holy Cross 42.
11:53 left, 1st Quarter: Back-to-back first downs for the Leopards, who are out to the 43 after gaining 25 yards in three plays.
13:07 left, 1st Quarter: The Lafayette defense makes a stand, stuffing a running play and forcing a pair of incompletions to end Holy Cross' drive at the 48. Leopards start first possession at their own 18 after the punt.
14:15 left, 1st Quarter: Randolph has been running a lot lately, and he did it again out to a first down into Lafayette territory at the 48. 16-yard run for the quarterback.
14:23 left, 1st Quarter: Crusaders pick up a first down on 13-yard run on game's opening play, out to their own 36.
Gametime - Fans are fililng in now, certainly nowhere near a full crowd with the rain but a nice turnout considering the circumstances. Holy Cross will receive the opening kickoff, so Randolph and the Crusader offense have a chance to strike first.
8 minutes until game time - This is obviously a must-win game for both teams, but watching Holy Cross' senior day introductions emphasizes how badly the Crusaders need this one. They've been right on the doorstep for the past two years, and now they are going to lose more than 30 seniors from this team, including quarterback Dominic Randolph and some quality offensive lineman.
50 minutes until game time - Better get your rain shoes on! It's been raining most of the morning here in Worcester, and the grass field is already looking sloppy. Both teams are going to need to manage the elements to win this one and claim the Patriot League title and automatic playoff berth. Read the football preview for more information. The preview information for the Lafayette/Holy Cross game is also included below.
No. 20 Lafayette at No. 13/14 Holy Cross
Both teams are 8-1 overall and 4-0 in the Patriot League coming into the day, two games ahead of the closest League competitor. Holy Cross comes into the game at No. 13 in the Sports Network top 25 and No. 14 in the FCS Coaches poll, while Lafayette is No. 20 in each ranking.
Lafayette will go in search of its seventh Patriot League title, as the Leopards previously won the crown in 1988, 1992, 1994, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Holy Cross plays for its sixth Patriot League crown, but the first in 18 years as the Crusaders won League titles in 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990 and 1991.
Each squad has been in this setting in recent seasons, but with different results. Holy Cross played in a November game between teams with perfect Patriot League marks in each of the past two seasons, but fell last year at Colgate (28-27) and in 2007 at Fordham (24-21). The victories sealed the League title and automatic playoff berth for the Raiders and Rams. Lafayette played for a share of the Patriot League title on the final Saturday of each season from 2004-06, and defeated rival Lehigh for the League crown all three times. The Leopards shared the title with Lehigh in 2004 and 2006, and with Colgate in 2005. Lafayette earned the automatic bid in 2004 and 2006, and also made the playoffs as an at-large entrant in 2005.
Holy Cross hopes home field is the difference in winning its first title since 1991 and making the postseason for the first time since 1983. The Crusaders are 5-0 at Fitton Field this season and have won nine straight at home overall. However, the road team has won the last four games in the Lafayette/Holy Cross series. The Crusaders earned a 27-26 win in Easton last year on a 37-yard touchdown pass with six seconds to go from Dominic Randolph to Rob Koster, while the Leopards notched a 31-21 win in Worcester in 2007. Each of those games were also played with two weeks to go in the season. Lafayette has won the last three meetings in Worcester.
It is the third top 25 meeting between Patriot League teams in the past four weeks, after none were contested since the 2004 season. In the previous two instances, both Holy Cross and Lafayette defeated Colgate at home. The then No. 22 Crusaders beat the No. 17 Raiders 42-28, on Oct. 24, while the No. 25/24 Leopards knocked off No. 18/20 Colgate, 56-49, in Easton on Saturday.
Both teams are putting up historically strong seasons. Lafayette has its best start through nine games since a 9-0 year in 1940, and its seven-game winning streak is the longest in a single season since that year. Lafayette will try to win nine games in a season for the first time since a 9-2 campaign in 1981. Holy Cross' 8-1 record is its best since a perfect 11-0 season in 1991, its last Patriot League title campaign.
The game will also feature two of the best quarterbacks in the nation, Holy Cross senior Dominic Randolph and Lafayette senior Rob Curley. Randolph holds FCS records for consecutive games with a touchdown pass (39) and consecutive 200-yard efforts (38), and will try to extend both marks on Saturday. He is also 30 attempts away from the FCS record of 1,680. Randolph is in fifth place in FCS history in total offense (13,220) and passing yardage (12,489), and sixth in touchdown passes (111). He leads the Patriot League in nine different career categories, and is at the top of the FCS leaderboard in total offense and points responsible for per game this season. Curley has been coming on strong lately, tying a Patriot League record with seven touchdown passes in the Leopards' win over Colgate on Saturday. He also set a personal best with 373 passing yards, the third straight week he has notched a career high. For his efforts, Curley was named a national player of the week by The Sports Network and College Sporting News, as well as the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week. He is second in the nation in pass efficiency rating.
There is plenty of television coverage for the game, which will be shown by RCN-4 & 8 throughout the east coast and WCTR-TV 3 in Central Massachusetts, and also picked up on ESPN360.com. The game will also be on ESPN Game Plan, ESPN's pay per view service, on DirecTV 792 and Dish Network 462.
The loser of the Lafayette/Holy Cross showdown will still be in the thick of the race for an at-large berth into the postseason, and No. 24 Colgate hopes to remain in that mix as well when it hosts Bucknell on Saturday. The Raiders enter their season finale with an overall record of 8-2 and a Patriot League mark of 3-2. Lehigh is at Fordham in the remaining League contest, while Georgetown hosts No. 4 Richmond in non-League action.
FINAL: No. 13/14 Holy Cross 28, No. 20 Lafayette 26: In a great game, Holy Cross wins its first Patriot League title since 1991, and earns the Patriot League automatic bid to go to the FCS postseason for the first time since 1983. Crusaders will try to complete a perfect Patriot League season next week at Bucknell, while Lafayette, at 8-2 and 4-1 in the League, can stay in the at-large FCS playoff hunt with a win at rival Lehigh. For more information, go to the Patriot League website for a brief recap of the action, with a full synopsis coming later in the night.
FINAL SCORES: No. 24 Colgate beats Bucknell, 29-14, to finish the regular season at 9-2 overall and 4-2 in the Patriot League. Georgetown falls at home against Richmond, 49-10.
NCAA Field Hockey Tournament Update: Patriot League champion American falls at Maryland, 6-1, in the Round of 16. Eagles end season with a 12-9 record.
29 seconds left, 4th Quarter: Lafayette fumbles after a completed pass, and HC recovers! Crusaders are going to win....heading down for trophy ceremony.
44 seconds left, 4th Quarter: Holy Cross with a 4th and 15 at its the Lafayette 30....interesting decision coming up.
1:31 left, 4th Quarter: Leopards use their last timeout after stopping Randolph to a five-yard loss. 3rd and 15 at the 30.
1:37 left, 4th Quarter: Holy Cross now has a 2nd and 10 at the Lafayette 25...Leopards with one timeout left.
2:09 left, 4th Quarter: Randoph with the first down throw to Freddie Santana to the Lafayette 25. HC has a 1st and 10 there.
2:32 left, 4th Quarter: Holy Cross facing a 3rd and 4 at the Lafayette 39
3:58 left, 4th Quarter: Curley tries to get out of pressure on 4th and 10, and he's sacked by Holy Cross' Jimmy Thomas for a 17-yard loss all the way back to the Lafayette 45. Holy Cross will take over there with less than four minutes to play and a 2-point lead.
4:06 left, 4th Quarter: Low snap throws Lafayette off, and Curley's pass falls incomplete on 3rd and 10. Leopards will go for it on 4th down.
4:50 left, 4th Quarter: Lafayette now facing a 3rd-and-10 at the Holy Cross 36.
6:30 left, 4th Quarter: Curley with a first down pass to Greg Stripe to get into Holy Cross territory, it's a first and 10 Lafayette at the HC 35.
7:15 left, 4th Quarter: Curley goes on a QB rush up the middle, makes a few jukes and takes a tackler or two with him to the 43 yard line for anothe first down.
8;32 left, 4th Quarter: Leopards pick up a first down at their 26 yard line.
Score Update: Bucknell surprising No. 24 Colgate, 14-9, in the third quarter in Hamilton.
9:40 left, 4th Quarter: Holy Cross gets to the Lafayette 38, then elects to punt on a 4th and 7. Leopards with the ball at their own 15.
10:04 left, 4th Quarter: Sack and an incompletion leaves Holy Cross in trouble with a 3rd and 16 at the Lafayette 47.
11:15 left, 4th Quarter: Big return on the kickoff gives HC a drive start at its 45, and Randolph throws 14 yards to Charles McCall on first play to get the ball in Lafayette territory at the 41.
You can feel things getting tense even up here in the press box, with Holy Cross' lead at two with 11:32 to play. Remember, last year, Holy Cross won at Lafayette, 27-26, on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Randolph to Koster with six seconds to play. In that game, Lafayette also missed an extra point on its final touchdown with about two minutes left to allow Holy Cross to win instead of tie.
11:32 left, 4th Quarter: Score Update: Holy Cross 28, Lafayette 26: Leopards get back to within two points, as Curley throws a 14-yard touchdown on a slant to Mark Layton to make things very interesting in the final minutes here.
12:44 left, 4th Quarter: Leopards with another first down on a pair of runs by Maurice White. At the Holy Cross 15 trying to at least get back within a score.
13:43 left, 4th Quarter: Lafayette on the move, with a pair of first downs to the Holy Cross 29. One important note: Leopards have the wind at their back, and 40 of the 47 points in this game have been scored going in that direction.
End of 3rd Quarter: Holy Cross 28, Lafayette 19: Leopard defense steps up to keep the game in reach. Sacked Randolph on a 3rd and 3 play at the Holy Cross 27 to force a punt. Leopards will have a first down at their own 39 to begin the fourth quarter.
3:50 left, 3rd Quarter: Leopards can't take advantage of the turnover and great field possession. A pair of incompletions and no gain on a run results in a three-and-out. Holy Cross will take the ball at its 14 yard line.
4:49 left, 3rd Quarter: Talk about a quick change in momentum. Randolph throws to Edger, who can't control the ball and the bobble ends up in the hands of Lafayette's Mark Leggiero for an interception to give the Leopards the ball at the Holy Cross 40.
4:58 left, 3rd Quarter: Curley tries to find White on a 3rd and 3 play, but the pass is short and the Leopards are forced to punt. Momentum has completely swung in this game, so the Lafayette defense needs to step up now. HC will begin at its 36.
6:28 left, 3rd Quarter: Lafayette picks up a first down on its first set of downs. Leopards at their own 31 now.
PL Score Updates: We're at halftime of the other PL games. Lehigh and Fordham are tied, 28-28, in a turnover-filled game. No. 24 Colgate leads Bucknell, 9-7, and Georgetown trails No. 4 Richmond, 28-10.
7:22 left, 3rd Quarter: Score Update: Holy Cross 28, Lafayette 19: Holy Cross burns Lafayette on another third down, this time for a touchdown as Randolph finds Santana wide open down the middle of the field for a 40-yard touchdown pass on 3rd and 9. Again the extra points look huge, because it's a two-score game though Holy Cross has just one more touchdown than the Leopards.
8:38 left, third quarter: Randolph to Chmielinski for another 3rd-down conversion, this one for nine yards to the Lafayette 41.
10:00 left, third quarter: Crusaders pick up a first down on 3rd and 8, with Randolph throwing 12 yards to Chmielinski to the 46 yard line.
10:30 left, third quarter: After a hold, Crusaders pick up a first down at the 30 on a 2nd-and-14 play.
12:00 left, third quarter: And a big play by the Holy Cross defense stops Lafayette's drive. Curley tries to throw down the middle, but Anthony DiMichele is waiting for the interception and gives the Crusaders a drive start at their own 20.
13:10 left, third quarter: Leopards pick up another first down, with a gutsy play-action on 3rd and 1 going for a 28-yard gain into tight coverage to Mark Layton. Lafayette is already at the HC 30.
14:11 left, third quarter: Curley's pass is incomplete, but a pretty obvious defensive holding call on Holy Cross keeps Lafayette's posssession going to the 32.
14:45 left, third quarter: Lafayette with a third and eight at its own 22....key play with Holy Cross holding all the momentum right now.
15:00 left, third quarter: Interesting start to the second half....kickoff goes through the end zone, and Lafayette is forced to burn a timeout on first down play to begin their drive. Could be important late in the game.
Some score updates before we begin the second half in Worcester: Lehigh and Fordham tied, 21-21, and Bucknell surprising No. 24 Colgate, 7-6, with both games now late in the second quarter. Georgetown trails Richmond, 28-10, nearing halftime.
Be back on in about 15 minutes to get ready for the second half.
Halftime: Holy Cross 21, Lafayette 19: After Lafayette dominated the first quarter, this has turned into the shootout we all expected. Randolph and Curley are leading their teams down the field with regularity, so the team that can even come up with one stop on defense could be in great position. That's all it took for HC to turn a 19-7 deficit into a 21-19 lead. Lafayette's two missed extra points might play a role all game, because this one should be tied.
11 seconds left, 2nd Quarter: Score Update: Holy Cross 21, Lafayette 19: Randolph scores on the keeper to put the Crusaders on top for the first time today just before the half. Both teams have 3 TDs, so Lafayette's two missed extra points loom large right now. Leopards will receive to open the second half, so a big score for the Crusaders.
Score Updates: Other Patriot League games are tied in the 2nd quarter. Lehigh and Fordham knotted at 14-14, Bucknell and Colgate still scoreless.
15 seconds left, 2nd Quarter: Houghton shut down on a 2nd down carry....3rd and goal for the Crusaders at the 1 as they try to take the halftime lead.
50 seconds left, 2nd Quarter: Randolph throws to Koster down to the one yard line.
1:15 left, 2nd Quarter: Randolph with a first-down pass to Chmielinski followed by an 11-yard run by Houghton has a first-and-goal for the Crusaders at the 9.
2:10 left, 2nd Quarter: Screen pass to Gerald Mistretta just avoids disaster for Crusaders, but then goes for 20 yards to the Lafayette 31.
2:29 left, 2nd Quarter: Holy Cross starts at its own 49, down 19-14 here late in the 2nd quarter.
2:40 left, 2nd Quarter: Curley sacked by Mude Ohimor on a 3rd-and-3 play from the 27, pushing the ball back to 19. Holy Cross calls timeout in anticipation of punt and a chance to get closer or take the lead before the half.
4:21 left, 2nd Quarter: Score Update: Lafayette 19, Holy Cross 14: Unique formation to say the least, with the lineman lining up to the left and the play going to the right. It works though, as Randolph fires a 22-yard touchdown pass to Luke Chmielinski to answer Lafayette's touchdown in 27 seconds.
4:32 left, 2nd Quarter: Crusaders get going right away on offense, with a 38-yard gain from Randolph to Bill Edger to get it to the Lafayette 22.
With Lafayette cruising on offense and receiving to open the second half, Holy Cross really needs to make this a one-score game before halftime.
4:48 left, 2nd Quarter: Score Update: Lafayette 19, Holy Cross 7: White scores his second one-yard touchdown of the day for the Leopards, and this time the extra point is good to get the lead back up to 12 points.
5:58 left, 2nd Quarter: Leopards with a first and goal at the five on a nice play-fake by Curley and then a pass to a wide open Mark Layton, who fell to keep him from gaining even more yardage.
6:27 left, 2nd Quarter: Lafayette is in business to answer the Holy Cross score, with a screen pass to Jerome Randolph covering 40 yards all the way to the Crusader 32.
7:21 left, 2nd Quarter: Score Update: Lafayette 12, Holy Cross 7: Crusaders get on the board, as Randolph fakes the handoff to Houghton and then pitches back to Chmielinski coming around from behind for a four-yard touchdown. With the extra poitnt good, Lafayette leads by just five despite having two touchdowns to Holy Cross' one.
7:50 left, 2nd Quarter: Crusaders go to the wildcat and get the first down on a run to the 4, it will be a first and goal from there.
8:15 left, 2nd Quarter: Holy Cross with a 3rd-and-2 at the 8 after a pair of Houghton runs.
9:29 left, 2nd Quarter: Here comes the Crusader offense: 11-yard first down run by Eddie Houghton to the Lafayette 16.
10:12 left, 2nd Quarter: Holy Cross is moving now, with Randolph throwing to Freddie Santana for a first down to the Lafayette 42, and then another one to Chmielinski to the 27.
11:06 left, 2nd Quarter: Curley's fade to Bennett falls incomplete....Holy Cross starts at its own 32 yard line after a punt of only 22 yards.
11:40 left, 2nd Quarter: Leopards with a 3rd-and-8 at their own 46 yard line...could be a key play in the game the way the momentum is going now.
13:48 left, 2nd Quarter: Lafayette defense with another interception, as Randolph threw it right to Eric McGovern at the Lafayette 28 yard line. Leopards with the ball already up 12-0 and looking to put a lot of distance from the Crusaders here.
14:40 left, 2nd Quarter: Crusaders do pick up the 3rd-and-long, with Randolph throwing for 15 yards to Luke Chmielinski to the Lafayette 49.
End of 1st Quarter: Lafayette 12, Holy Cross 0: Holy Cross facing a big 3rd-and-7 from its own 34 when the second quarter begins, with the Leopards up 12-0 after a dominant first quarter.
Lafayette with touchdown drives of 82 and 75 yards here in the first quarter. Holy Cross needs to figure things out on defense, and the Crusader offense will need a score soon to make sure this one doesn't get out of hand.
1:21 left, 1st Quarter: Score Update: Lafayette 12, Holy Cross 0: Leopards finish their second big drive of the day, this one covering 75 yards, with a two-yard touchdown pass from Curley to Kevin Doty. But the extra point is no good again, so the Leopards leaving a few points out there.
1:26 left, 1st Quarter: Lafayette with a first-and-goal at the 2 after a pass interference call in the endzone.
2:41 left, 1st Quarter: Lafayette's offense looks almost unstoppable right now. Randolph to Stripe for nine yards followed by a 10-yard first down run by Maurice White to the Holy Cross 23, and then an 11-yard pass from Curley to Mark Layton has it all the way to the Holy Cross 12.
4:20 left, 1st Quarter: Leopards on the move again, picking up a first down with a 13-yard pass to Stripe out to the 46, and then another one with a 12-yard pass from Curley to Bennett to the Holy Cross 42.
6:30 left, 1st Quarter: Randolph throws high for Rob Koster on a 3rd-and-7, and the deflection is intercepted by Lafayette's Brandon Ellis. Leopards with a drive start at their own 25.
7:30 left, 1st Quarter: Crusaders with a big play on a 3rd-and-long, with Randolph throwing long to Bill Edger for a 42-yard gainer to the Lafayette 30.
8:22 left, 1st Quarter: Score Update: Lafayette 6, Holy Cross 0: The third time was the charm for Maurice White, who carried in to the endzone from one yard out on a third-and-goal play after getting stuffed on his first two carries. Bad snap leads to a missed extra point, however, so Lafayette's lead is only 6-0.
10:07 left, 1st Quarter: Lafayette is very close to taking the lead here. Curley throws into coverage to Mitchell Bennett, who makes a very nice catch and run for 34 yards to set up a first and goal at the 3.
11:20 left, 1st Quarter: Another nice gain for the Leopards, 15 yards from Rob Curley to Greg Stripe for another first down to the Holy Cross 42.
11:53 left, 1st Quarter: Back-to-back first downs for the Leopards, who are out to the 43 after gaining 25 yards in three plays.
13:07 left, 1st Quarter: The Lafayette defense makes a stand, stuffing a running play and forcing a pair of incompletions to end Holy Cross' drive at the 48. Leopards start first possession at their own 18 after the punt.
14:15 left, 1st Quarter: Randolph has been running a lot lately, and he did it again out to a first down into Lafayette territory at the 48. 16-yard run for the quarterback.
14:23 left, 1st Quarter: Crusaders pick up a first down on 13-yard run on game's opening play, out to their own 36.
Gametime - Fans are fililng in now, certainly nowhere near a full crowd with the rain but a nice turnout considering the circumstances. Holy Cross will receive the opening kickoff, so Randolph and the Crusader offense have a chance to strike first.
8 minutes until game time - This is obviously a must-win game for both teams, but watching Holy Cross' senior day introductions emphasizes how badly the Crusaders need this one. They've been right on the doorstep for the past two years, and now they are going to lose more than 30 seniors from this team, including quarterback Dominic Randolph and some quality offensive lineman.
50 minutes until game time - Better get your rain shoes on! It's been raining most of the morning here in Worcester, and the grass field is already looking sloppy. Both teams are going to need to manage the elements to win this one and claim the Patriot League title and automatic playoff berth. Read the football preview for more information. The preview information for the Lafayette/Holy Cross game is also included below.
No. 20 Lafayette at No. 13/14 Holy Cross
Both teams are 8-1 overall and 4-0 in the Patriot League coming into the day, two games ahead of the closest League competitor. Holy Cross comes into the game at No. 13 in the Sports Network top 25 and No. 14 in the FCS Coaches poll, while Lafayette is No. 20 in each ranking.
Lafayette will go in search of its seventh Patriot League title, as the Leopards previously won the crown in 1988, 1992, 1994, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Holy Cross plays for its sixth Patriot League crown, but the first in 18 years as the Crusaders won League titles in 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990 and 1991.
Each squad has been in this setting in recent seasons, but with different results. Holy Cross played in a November game between teams with perfect Patriot League marks in each of the past two seasons, but fell last year at Colgate (28-27) and in 2007 at Fordham (24-21). The victories sealed the League title and automatic playoff berth for the Raiders and Rams. Lafayette played for a share of the Patriot League title on the final Saturday of each season from 2004-06, and defeated rival Lehigh for the League crown all three times. The Leopards shared the title with Lehigh in 2004 and 2006, and with Colgate in 2005. Lafayette earned the automatic bid in 2004 and 2006, and also made the playoffs as an at-large entrant in 2005.
Holy Cross hopes home field is the difference in winning its first title since 1991 and making the postseason for the first time since 1983. The Crusaders are 5-0 at Fitton Field this season and have won nine straight at home overall. However, the road team has won the last four games in the Lafayette/Holy Cross series. The Crusaders earned a 27-26 win in Easton last year on a 37-yard touchdown pass with six seconds to go from Dominic Randolph to Rob Koster, while the Leopards notched a 31-21 win in Worcester in 2007. Each of those games were also played with two weeks to go in the season. Lafayette has won the last three meetings in Worcester.
It is the third top 25 meeting between Patriot League teams in the past four weeks, after none were contested since the 2004 season. In the previous two instances, both Holy Cross and Lafayette defeated Colgate at home. The then No. 22 Crusaders beat the No. 17 Raiders 42-28, on Oct. 24, while the No. 25/24 Leopards knocked off No. 18/20 Colgate, 56-49, in Easton on Saturday.
Both teams are putting up historically strong seasons. Lafayette has its best start through nine games since a 9-0 year in 1940, and its seven-game winning streak is the longest in a single season since that year. Lafayette will try to win nine games in a season for the first time since a 9-2 campaign in 1981. Holy Cross' 8-1 record is its best since a perfect 11-0 season in 1991, its last Patriot League title campaign.
The game will also feature two of the best quarterbacks in the nation, Holy Cross senior Dominic Randolph and Lafayette senior Rob Curley. Randolph holds FCS records for consecutive games with a touchdown pass (39) and consecutive 200-yard efforts (38), and will try to extend both marks on Saturday. He is also 30 attempts away from the FCS record of 1,680. Randolph is in fifth place in FCS history in total offense (13,220) and passing yardage (12,489), and sixth in touchdown passes (111). He leads the Patriot League in nine different career categories, and is at the top of the FCS leaderboard in total offense and points responsible for per game this season. Curley has been coming on strong lately, tying a Patriot League record with seven touchdown passes in the Leopards' win over Colgate on Saturday. He also set a personal best with 373 passing yards, the third straight week he has notched a career high. For his efforts, Curley was named a national player of the week by The Sports Network and College Sporting News, as well as the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week. He is second in the nation in pass efficiency rating.
There is plenty of television coverage for the game, which will be shown by RCN-4 & 8 throughout the east coast and WCTR-TV 3 in Central Massachusetts, and also picked up on ESPN360.com. The game will also be on ESPN Game Plan, ESPN's pay per view service, on DirecTV 792 and Dish Network 462.
The loser of the Lafayette/Holy Cross showdown will still be in the thick of the race for an at-large berth into the postseason, and No. 24 Colgate hopes to remain in that mix as well when it hosts Bucknell on Saturday. The Raiders enter their season finale with an overall record of 8-2 and a Patriot League mark of 3-2. Lehigh is at Fordham in the remaining League contest, while Georgetown hosts No. 4 Richmond in non-League action.
Friday Night Fireworks
It was an extremely busy Friday night in the Patriot League, but the action in the Men's Soccer semifinals at Bucknell took center stage after two extraordinary contests.
The No. 1 seed Bison beat No. 4 Lafayette, 1-0, in overtime, while No. 3 American advanced past No. 2 Lehigh in penalty kicks (6-5) after the teams played to a scoreless tie. Bucknell and American will now meet for the Patriot League Men's Soccer Championship on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Lewisburg. To read all about the action on Friday night, click here. Conor O'Brien scored the winner in overtime for the Bison, while the Eagles converted all six of their penalty kick opportunities to take the win over Lehigh. That's pretty amazing competition in the Patriot League soccer tournaments so far. In last week's Women's Soccer event, all three games were decided by 1-0 finals, with two going to overtime and another ending on a goal in the final minute.
Colgate emerged as the winner in last week's Patriot League Women's Soccer Championship, but the NCAA Tournament was not as kind to the Raiders. They fell at No. 16 Penn State, 5-0, on Friday.
In volleyball, the Patriot League Tournament field is now set after Lehigh defeated Holy Cross, 3-1, on Friday. Lehigh joins Army, American and Colgate in next week's event, with the Black Knights and Eagles still holding a chance to host going into Saturday's finales.
The men and women's basketball seasons also tipped off on Friday night. In men's hoops, Lafayette scored the lone victory on a 1-6 night. The results were better in women's basketball, with Navy, Army, American and Lehigh all winning in a 4-2 night.
There's much more action coming on Saturday, with American in the NCAA Tournament in field hockey, NCAA regionals in cross country, the regular-season finales in volleyball and games in men and women's basketball.
Oh yea, there also might be just a little interest in the Patriot League Football Championship and automatic FCS playoff bid on the line between No. 20 Lafayette and No. 13 Holy Cross in Worcester. The showdown for the League crown begins at 12:30 p.m., and we'll be on the Gameday Blog with live coverage from Worcester and score updates of other League contests shortly before kickoff.
Just another busy November day in the Patriot League!
The No. 1 seed Bison beat No. 4 Lafayette, 1-0, in overtime, while No. 3 American advanced past No. 2 Lehigh in penalty kicks (6-5) after the teams played to a scoreless tie. Bucknell and American will now meet for the Patriot League Men's Soccer Championship on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Lewisburg. To read all about the action on Friday night, click here. Conor O'Brien scored the winner in overtime for the Bison, while the Eagles converted all six of their penalty kick opportunities to take the win over Lehigh. That's pretty amazing competition in the Patriot League soccer tournaments so far. In last week's Women's Soccer event, all three games were decided by 1-0 finals, with two going to overtime and another ending on a goal in the final minute.
Colgate emerged as the winner in last week's Patriot League Women's Soccer Championship, but the NCAA Tournament was not as kind to the Raiders. They fell at No. 16 Penn State, 5-0, on Friday.
In volleyball, the Patriot League Tournament field is now set after Lehigh defeated Holy Cross, 3-1, on Friday. Lehigh joins Army, American and Colgate in next week's event, with the Black Knights and Eagles still holding a chance to host going into Saturday's finales.
The men and women's basketball seasons also tipped off on Friday night. In men's hoops, Lafayette scored the lone victory on a 1-6 night. The results were better in women's basketball, with Navy, Army, American and Lehigh all winning in a 4-2 night.
There's much more action coming on Saturday, with American in the NCAA Tournament in field hockey, NCAA regionals in cross country, the regular-season finales in volleyball and games in men and women's basketball.
Oh yea, there also might be just a little interest in the Patriot League Football Championship and automatic FCS playoff bid on the line between No. 20 Lafayette and No. 13 Holy Cross in Worcester. The showdown for the League crown begins at 12:30 p.m., and we'll be on the Gameday Blog with live coverage from Worcester and score updates of other League contests shortly before kickoff.
Just another busy November day in the Patriot League!
Friday, November 13, 2009
The Number 13
Not considered a lucky number by many, the number 13 carries important significance in the Colgate family. It is said that Colgate University was founded by 13 men with 13 dollars and 13 prayers. The number can be found throughout the campus, including the address (13 Oak Drive), zip code (13346) and on the mascot's uniform. Needless to say, they love the number in Hamilton, N.Y.
Colgate will begin the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament against national power Penn State this evening. Guess what today is. Friday the 13th. A fact not lost on Head Coach Kathy Brawn and company.
Colgate will begin the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament against national power Penn State this evening. Guess what today is. Friday the 13th. A fact not lost on Head Coach Kathy Brawn and company.
Previewing an 11-Pack of Patriot League Sports
The Patriot League has 23 varsity sports. Eleven of those will compete this weekend. The League has 11 team sports, seven of which will be in action over the weekend. Safe to say this weekend will be as big as any during the 2009-10 athletic season.
We'll start with the headline sport, football, where No. 20 Lafayette is at No. 13/14 Holy Cross for the Patriot League title and automatic FCS playoff berth. Each team is 8-1 overall, and 4-0 in the Patriot League. Should be a great game between two of the better teams in the country, and the loser will have a chance along with Colgate (8-2) to earn an at-large postseason spot.
The 2009 Patriot League Men's Soccer Championship will be contested at Bucknell, with the No. 1 Bison playing No. 4 Lafayette in the first semifinal on Friday at 5 p.m. and No. 2 Lehigh taking on No. 3 American at 8 p.m. The winners square off for the League title on Sunday at 1 p.m. Colgate is the two-time defending champion, so there will be a new title team this year.
Two Patriot League sports have already crowned a champion, so those teams will go on to the NCAA Tournament this weekend. In women's soccer, Colgate is at No. 16 Penn State in the first round on Friday, while in field hockey American travels to the No. 1 seed and defending champion, Maryland. In more NCAA related action, Patriot League Cross Country Teams Head to Regional Meets.
There's still one more Patriot League Tournament to come next weekend, in volleyball. In the final regular-season weekend of the year, seeds and the last spot in the tournament are at stake. Army, Colgate and American have secured the top three seeds and will now vie for the top spot and hosting rights in the event, while Lehigh has the inside track on the final tournament berth with a two-game lead over Bucknell and Lafayette.
While the fall sports come to an end, the winter sports are just beginning. Friday is the opening night for Patriot League men's basketball and women's basketball. Seven men's teams and all eight women's squads will play at least one game on the opening weekend as the 2009-10 season begins.
And to put us in double-digit sports in action, Bucknell will hit the pool for swimming and diving at the Princeton Invitational.
The games begin with men's soccer and men's basketball at 5 p.m. on Friday, and don't stop until the late afternoon on Sunday. We'll be here at the Gameday Blog with live coverage from the football showdown in Worcester, but remember to visit the Patriot League website as well as the League's Twitter page as well as the blog for coverage throughout the weekend.
Now get ready for a crazy 48 hours!
We'll start with the headline sport, football, where No. 20 Lafayette is at No. 13/14 Holy Cross for the Patriot League title and automatic FCS playoff berth. Each team is 8-1 overall, and 4-0 in the Patriot League. Should be a great game between two of the better teams in the country, and the loser will have a chance along with Colgate (8-2) to earn an at-large postseason spot.
The 2009 Patriot League Men's Soccer Championship will be contested at Bucknell, with the No. 1 Bison playing No. 4 Lafayette in the first semifinal on Friday at 5 p.m. and No. 2 Lehigh taking on No. 3 American at 8 p.m. The winners square off for the League title on Sunday at 1 p.m. Colgate is the two-time defending champion, so there will be a new title team this year.
Two Patriot League sports have already crowned a champion, so those teams will go on to the NCAA Tournament this weekend. In women's soccer, Colgate is at No. 16 Penn State in the first round on Friday, while in field hockey American travels to the No. 1 seed and defending champion, Maryland. In more NCAA related action, Patriot League Cross Country Teams Head to Regional Meets.
There's still one more Patriot League Tournament to come next weekend, in volleyball. In the final regular-season weekend of the year, seeds and the last spot in the tournament are at stake. Army, Colgate and American have secured the top three seeds and will now vie for the top spot and hosting rights in the event, while Lehigh has the inside track on the final tournament berth with a two-game lead over Bucknell and Lafayette.
While the fall sports come to an end, the winter sports are just beginning. Friday is the opening night for Patriot League men's basketball and women's basketball. Seven men's teams and all eight women's squads will play at least one game on the opening weekend as the 2009-10 season begins.
And to put us in double-digit sports in action, Bucknell will hit the pool for swimming and diving at the Princeton Invitational.
The games begin with men's soccer and men's basketball at 5 p.m. on Friday, and don't stop until the late afternoon on Sunday. We'll be here at the Gameday Blog with live coverage from the football showdown in Worcester, but remember to visit the Patriot League website as well as the League's Twitter page as well as the blog for coverage throughout the weekend.
Now get ready for a crazy 48 hours!
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