GETTYSBURG, Pa. – The Gettysburg College women's lacrosse team will seek its third consecutive conference title on the home turf when it hosts the Centennial Conference Championship at Clark Field on Saturday and Sunday, May 3-4.
 
Gettysburg (14-2, 8-1 CC) ensured hosting rights by knocking off Franklin & Marshall College (14-4, 8-1 CC) 8-6 at Clark Field on April 23. The host of the Centennial tournament has won nine of the last 11 championships. Competing at home in the conference postseason, Gettysburg is 11-1 and has claimed five titles since 2003.
 
"Every opportunity that we get to play at home on Clark Field is awesome and I am so happy, especially for the seniors," said head coach Carol Cantele '83, who has posted a 319-94 record in 22 seasons at Gettysburg. "We have had so few weekend games at home this season so this is extra special for the team."
 
Last spring, the Bullets defeated Washington 17-9 the semifinals before downing Franklin & Marshall 14-11 in the championship game. The win marked Gettysburg's conference-best eighth title - all since the 2000 season.
 
Gettysburg and Franklin & Marshall, currently ranked sixth and seventh in the nation heading into the postseason, respectively, have combined to win each of the last 12 Centennial Conference crowns. The Bullets and Diplomats should be wary, however, as the remaining teams in the field look to end that championship streak.
 
Washington College (11-4, 7-2 CC) grabbed the No. 3 seed for the tournament and will face Franklin & Marshall in Saturday's second semifinal at about 3:30 p.m. The Shorewomen, ranked 19th in the latest national poll, upended Gettysburg 12-11 in double-overtime on April 19, marking the Bullets' first loss in conference play to a team other than F&M in 12 years.
 
McDaniel College (9-7, 5-4 CC) draws Muhlenberg College (10-6, 4-5 CC) in Wednesday's opening round game at 4 p.m. The winner will face Gettysburg in the first semifinal on Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
The championship game is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. The winner of the conference tournament will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
 
"I believe that the parity among the teams going into this year's tournament is as about as competitive as I can recall, which should make for a very exciting tournament," Cantele noted.
 
Visiting teams will have to contend with a Gettysburg squad that does not lose at home very often. Since beginning play on Clark Field in 2005, the Bullets have won 78 of 89 contests. The team has not dropped a game at home to a conference foe since a 9-8 overtime loss to Franklin & Marshall in the finals of the conference tournament in 2010. Gettysburg has also won 14 consecutive home games dating back to the middle of last season.
 
Statistically, Gettysburg is the top offensive and defensive team in the conference. The Bullets average 14.8 goals per game, while posting a goals against average of 7.68. The team has also snagged a league-high 15.6 draw controls per game.
 
Despite the advantages on paper, Gettysburg will be challenged from the opening draw in Saturday's first semifinal. The Bullets have the target on their backs, and the other four teams will be looking to steal the conference trophy away.  
 
"It will come down to the team that brings their 'A' game in every aspect of play and I know that Gettysburg will be up for the task at hand," said Cantele. "We will need to play in the moment and get after it.  Our team will focus on playing together, creating momentum, and staying poised throughout."