Gettysburg College Athletics

Today's Centennial Conference (CC) opener marks the 38th all-time meeting between Gettysburg (2-1-3, 0-0 CC) and No. 16 Swarthmore (6-0-1, 0-0 CC) in a series that dates back to 1931. The Bullets hold a slim 17-16-4 edge in the series but the teams have played to 1-all draws in each of the last two seasons after splitting a pair during the 2021 season. The Garnet won the regular-season matchup 2-1 before the Bullets claimed a CC tournament first-round win 2-1 in overtime.

WHEN LAST WE MET: Swarthmore and Gettysburg combined for a flurry of threatening shots in the final 31 minutes of the game but each team was able to only put one past stout goalkeeping to settle for a 1-all draw in the Centennial Conference opener for both teams last season. Chase Sempervive scored the goal for the Bullets. Len Yamabe found the back of the net for the Garnet. (Full Recap) (Box Score)

LAST TIME OUT: Gettysburg and Southern Virginia both had their opportunities but neither could score in a draw. Leandro Ribeiro needed to make one save for his second straight shutout. Dallin Chappell had to make seven saves for the Knights. (Full Recap) (Box Score)

LIFTING THE LID: Gettysburg was slotted eighth in the preseason poll for the Centennial Conference. Swarthmore was picked in sixth - the final playoff spot. Just 14 points separated fifth through eighth places in the annual balloting of conference coaches. Dickinson was fifth (44) and Haverford (35) was seventh. Johns Hopkins was the preseason favorite with 76 points, garnering four first-place nods. Franklin & Marshall (72) and Washington (69) each had three first-place votes. 

SHOOTING BLAKS: The Bullets have held their last two opponents off the scoreboard and haven't relinquished a goal in the last 201 minutes, 22 seconds when Cal Lutheran scored in the 69th minute on Sept. 7.

LAST TIME OUT: ­­Swarthmore flexed its national ranking with a 7-0 victory over Wilkes on Tuesday. Len Yamabe continued his scorching sophomore campaign with his first-career hat trick and second multi-goal game of the season. (Full Recap) (Box Score)

AMONG THE RANKS: The Garnet ascended into the national ranking this week after receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches' Week 1 poll. Swarthmore is currently 16th in the national poll and ranked second in the Region V polling behind Centennial Conference-for and fifth-ranked Dickinson. 

NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP: Len Yamabe enters today's game atop the Garnet scoring list in 2024 with six goals and 14 points. His hat trick on Tuesday night doubled his current season total  . He scored twice in the 3-1 win over Occidental on Sept. 6 before adding a single tally against Widener last Saturday. The three goals against Wilkes matched his rookie season goal total in one game.