GETTYSBURG, Pa. – It's been six years since the Gettysburg College women's lacrosse team found its way to the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Championship, but the Bullets are ready to make the most of this weekend's experience and make a run at the national title at Kerr Stadium in Salem, Va.
 
Gettysburg (19-3) heads to the national semifinals for the sixth time in program history. From 2006 to 2011, the team advanced to the final four five times, with the last resulting in the program's first and only national title. The team has been a breath away from returning nearly every season since, including three losses in the quarterfinals.
 
"Every year we have been so close to making it to the final four so to finally be here, especially during my senior season, is such an incredible honor," said senior captain Emma Christie (Cos Cob, Conn./Greenwich). "It's great to see all of our hard work throughout the season paying off in such an exciting way."
 
The Bullets have been hard at work this campaign, facing eight nationally-ranked teams and scoring wins over six teams ranked among the top 12 in the country at the end of the regular season. Two of the teams Gettysburg faced during the regular season have also made the semifinals in The College of New Jersey (18-1) and Washington & Lee University (19-1). The Bullets handed Washington & Lee its only loss of the season 11-4 back on March 11. TCNJ held on for a 7-6 decision over Gettysburg on March 30.
 
While No. 1 TCNJ and No. 2 Washington & Lee square off in Saturday's first semifinal at noon, seventh-ranked Gettysburg will face No. 10 Trinity (Conn.) College (17-4) in the second semi at 3:00. The Bullets last met the Bantams in the quarterfinals of the 2014 NCAA tournament, which ended with a 16-8 victory for Trinity.
 
"Planning for three possible opponents is a challenge, but one that everyone has to do," noted Head Coach Carol Cantele '83, who became just the fourth women's lacrosse coach to reach 400 career victories in the team's 10-2 win over Salisbury University in the quarterfinals. "We're coming out to take it all and it's another week to be together. It doesn't get any better than that."
 
Saturday's semifinal winners will meet for the national title Sunday at 3:30. TCNJ leads all programs with 13 championships with the last coming in 2006. Gettysburg and Trinity (2012) each have one title, while Washington & Lee is seeking its first.
 
"The NCAA Championship is a whole new ball game because of the kind of pressure it adds," said Christie. "Teams can either thrive under the pressure or crack. At this point in the tournament, it's anyone's game so it should be a real battle this weekend."
 
Gettysburg's run to the national semifinals has been impressive. After trailing FDU-Florham 3-1 in the early part of its playoff opener, the Bullets have out-scored their opponents 41-5. Gettysburg held the nation's top scoring team, Rhodes College, to one goal and limited Salisbury to just a pair of goals. The team's goals against average of 4.82 ranks fourth in the country and is well below the program and Centennial Conference season records. The offense has spread the wealth with 10 players scoring at least 13 goals this season, but no player has scored more than four in a game.
 
The team would like nothing more than to compete in the national title game for the third time in program history and earn a rematch with either TCNJ or Washington & Lee on Sunday, but it won't overlook Saturday's matchup with a Trinity team that has reached the championship game in five consecutive seasons.
 
"I think the key going into the weekend is to stay in the moment and take it one game at a time," said Christie. "At the end of the day, it is going to be about showing up this weekend and playing our brand of ball. If we continue to play the way we have been during the NCAA tournament, we are going to be a very difficult team to stop."
 
The City of Salem and Old Dominion Athletic Conference are serving as hosts of this weekend's championship. For more information, including ticket prices and directions, please visit http://www.odaconline.com/ncaachampionships/wlax/index.