2009 NCAA Tournament Game Notes (PDF) | Live Stats

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – The Gettysburg College women's lacrosse team will look to get its postseason off and running this Saturday, May 9, as the Bullets begin their NCAA Division III Tournament march against Roanoke College on Saturday, May 9, at 2:30 p.m. as part of The College of New Jersey regional in Ewing, N.J. Gettysburg is one of four teams competing in TCNJ's regional, joining the hosts, SUNY Cortland, and Roanoke College.

Gettysburg once again emerged as one of the top teams in Division III and secured an at-large bid to the national playoffs after finishing runner-up in the Centennial Conference. The team, which drew an opening-round bye, is now looking at a talent-laden regional which features three nationally-ranked teams that each won their respective conferences.

“The brackets are all challenging and should provide for some great match ups,” said Head Coach Carol Cantele, now in her 17th season at the helm. “We are excited to have the opportunity to play another weekend as none of us are ready to put an end to our season.”

Gettysburg is the lone wolf in the regional without a conference title this spring, but the Bullets own the second-highest national ranking at No. 7. TCNJ (15-2) finished as the champ in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) and holds the fourth spot in the latest national poll. Cortland (14-6) took home its 11th consecutive State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) and is ranked 16th, one spot ahead of Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) champion Roanoke (16-4). Both Cortland and Roanoke won their first-round contests, defeating Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (23-8) and Cabrini College (14-9), respectively.

“At this point, we are just focusing on our team and our players,” said Cantele, who is Gettysburg's all-time wins leader with a record of 228-79. “The team is very busy at the moment with final exams and putting closure to the academic school year. So we are just concentrating on keeping our team focused, fit, and intense at each practice knowing that they have a lot on their plate at the moment.”

The Bullets should carry a measure of confidence in regard to their opening game against Roanoke with a recent victory on the resume. Last spring, Gettysburg jumped out to a 10-0 lead at the half against the Maroons en route to a 14-2 non-conference decision. However, anything came happen in the postseason, a fact not overlooked by the Bullets.

“At this point, anybody can win on any given day and that is what you want at this time of the year,” said Cantele. “What makes (the postseason) different is that everything is on the line – there is no tomorrow and no one wants it to end.”

Since 2000, Gettysburg has been to the national tournament nine times in 10 seasons, including eight in a row. The Bullets have won their first game six times, including during runs to the championship in 2006 and the semifinals in 2007. Among the team's eight NCAA Tournament losses, five have come to the eventual national champion.

Gettysburg was bounced from the postseason in its first outing last spring, but that is a distance thought on the current players' and coaches' minds. The team started this spring with a fresh outlook and went on to win its first 10 contests before winding up second in the CC behind Franklin & Marshall College.

If Gettysburg can get by Roanoke and TCNJ holds up against Cortland, the two national powers will square off in a rematch of a heated regular season battle that witnessed the Lions hold on for an 11-10 decision on April 5. TCNJ has beaten Gettysburg three times in the NCAA Tournament, all on its way to national titles.

To get out of the regional and advance to the semifinals and finals in Salem, Va., next weekend (May 16-17), the Bullets will need to rely on the goals that have allowed them to be successful this season. Those things, according to Cantele, are confidence, preparation, and the right mindset.

“Each player needs to believe that she is capable, talented, and tough enough, and she must be willing to work hard throughout the entire contest and not take a play off,” said Cantele. “All 12 players must have the mindset that they are a difference maker on the field. That is the team that will have the advantage going into the gate. That will likely be the team that will advance.”

TCNJ and Cortland will begin Saturday's play at 11:30 a.m., with Gettysburg and Roanoke following at 2:30 p.m. The gates at Lions' Complex Stadium will open at 10:30 a.m. with ticket prices set at $2 for students and senior citizens and $3 for adults. Sunday's regional championship will take place at 1 p.m.