Gettysburg College Athletics

OPENING DRAW: Today's non-conference game marks the 10th all-time meeting between No. 5 Gettysburg (1-0) and No. 19 Denison (0-1) in a series that dates back to 2002. The Bullets have won all nine previous meetings.

WHEN LAST WE MET: Then-No. 9 Gettysburg College flexed against a top-ranked opponent, this time taking down then-12th-ranked Denison 14-7 on Feb. 26 last season. Katie Fullowan led the Bullets with five goals and four draw controls. Jordan Basso added four goals. Casey McTague: paced the Big Red with three goals, two ground balls and two caused turnovers. (Full Recap) (Box Score)

LAST TIME OUT: Messiah, ranked 16th in the IWLCA preseason poll, raced out to a 4-0 first-quarter lead and held on to upend No. 5 Gettysburg 10-6 on Wednesday. Gabi Connor led the Bullets with two goals. Ehryn Groothoff tallied three goals for the Falcons. (Full Recap) (Box Score)

NO. 5 WITH A BULLET: Gettysburg earned the No. 5 spot in the preseason ILWomen/IWLCA Div. iII coaches poll. The Bullets were also tabbed as the preseason favorite in the Centennial Conference in the annual balloting of the conference coaches.

SPREADING IT OUT: In the first two games of the year, the Bullets have gotten goals from nine different players and points from 11 different players. Caroline Sullivan, Gabi Conner, and Kelly O'Connor are currently tied for the team lead with four goals each. Connor is the only one in that group with multiple goals in each of the first two contests. The Bullets have gotten just one goal thus far from its top two scorers in 2022. Jordan Basso and Katie Fullowan combined for 127 goals last season.

LAST TIME OUT: The 2023 season opened with a 14-4 loss to No. 25 Roanoke lsat Saturday. Allaire Kotz scored two goals and added one assist for the Big Red. (Full Recap) (Box Score)

REPRISE ROLE: Denison entered 2023 having to fill the void of 68 goals from Casey McTague. However, all of the other nine players who scored 10 or more goals in 2022 return to the roster this season. Josie Lucchesi netted 39 goals a year ago while Jane Bailey and Ashley Viglione tallied 29 and 24, respectively. Bailey also dished out a team-high 25 assists to rank second on the squad with 54 points.

TOP TIER: The Big Red opens the season with three of its first four games against top-25 competition. Denison already fell to No. 25 Roanoke last week before the trip to No. 5 Gettysburg today. After a game at Dickinson on Sunday, the Big Red hosts No. 17 Chicago on Mar. 4. Denison also has games against Salisbury and Washington and Lee on the schedule to round out its slate against preseason top-25 teams.