There's no place like home - especially when it comes to the playoffs. The LVC field hockey, men's soccer, and volleyball teams will all host Commonwealth Conference playoff games this week as they chase conference crowns and bids to the NCAA tournament.
Tickets to all events are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $2 for students, and all children under six are free. Semifinals will be held midweek, with each conference championship game taking place on Saturday, Nov. 8.
Men's Soccer
[1] Lebanon Valley (9-9-0, 5-1 CC) vs. [4] Widener (8-7-3, 3-3 CC)
Tuesday, Nov. 4 - 2 p.m. - Herbert Field
Live Score Updates on GoDutchmen.com
One of the biggest surprise stories in college soccer this season, Lebanon Valley is the first team other than Messiah and Elizabethtown to ever win the conference regular-season title. It did that by beating both of those two teams for the first time ever this season, including a 2-1 upset of then-fifth-ranked Messiah back on Oct. 15. That means the road to the title goes through Annville, starting with fourth-seeded Widener on Tuesday. During the regular season, LVC had no problem with the Pride, romping to a 5-1 win on Oct. 18. In the other semifinal, second seed Messiah will host third-seeded Lycoming at 7 p.m. Tuesday night.
Field Hockey
[2] Lebanon Valley (17-2, 4-1 CC) vs. [3] Elizabethtown (17-3, 3-2 CC)
Wednesday, Nov. 5 - 2:30 p.m. - LVC Field Hockey Stadium
Live Stats on GoDutchmen.com
The Commonwealth Conference has proven to be one of the nation's premier field hockey conferences in 2008, with three teams in its playoffs ranked in the NFHCA Top 20. LVC, ranked seventh in the nation, will host 13th-ranked Elizabethtown College in the CC semifinals on Wednesday. The Dutchmen earned the conference's #2 seed with a 17-2 overall record and a 4-1 conference mark; the Blue Jays were 17-3 with a 3-2 conference record. During the regular season, LVC visited E-town and walked away with a 2-0 victory in a two-day game that was halted by lightning. In the other conference semifinal, top-seed Messiah, which is ranked second in the nation, will host fourth-seeded Widener at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Volleyball
[1] Lebanon Valley (31-2, 6-0 CC) vs. [4] Messiah (18-6, 3-3 CC)
Wednesday, Nov. 5 - 7 p.m. - LVC Gymnasium
Live Score Updates on GoDutchmen.com
The LVC volleyball team hasn't exactly been slouching since the start of the decade - since 2001, the Dutchmen have gone a remarkable 197-77 under Head Coach Wayne Perry. But one thing has eluded LVC - a conference championship. That could end this season as the Dutchmen won their first-ever regular-season title to earn the #1 seed. LVC buzz-sawed through conference play, finishing a perfect 6-0 and ending the regular season on a 20-match win streak. Their 31-2 overall mark set an LVC record for most wins in a season by any team, in any sport. For the semis, they match up with fourth-seeded Messiah, who lost 3-0 in Annville back on Oct. 22. In the other semifinal, second-seeded Elizabethtown, the defending champions, hosts third seed Widener, also at 7 p.m.
