The Ursinus College field hockey team's postseason journey will begin in unfamiliar territory.
The Bears hope the destination remains the same.
Ursinus kicks off its pursuit of a fifth consecutive Centennial Conference championship not at home, where the Bears enjoyed the comforts of their Snell Field turf a year ago, or at Franklin & Marshall, their opponent for the previous four CC title bouts. Instead, the scene shifts to Baltimore and surprise host Johns Hopkins, which captured the top seed in the five-team tournament with a 2-1 victory over the Diplomats in the regular-season finale.
The Bears, seeded third, will challenge second-seeded F&M in the second semifinal, scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. The winner will meet either top seed Johns Hopkins or number four five Haverford, which won at Washington College in Tuesday's first-round game, at 11 a.m. Sunday.
The CC championship has been held at either Ursinus or F&M every year since 2002, when it was played at McDaniel, and the Blue Jays are serving as hosts for the first time since 2000. Johns Hopkins will hope to ride home-field advantage to its first CC championship since 2003 – also the last time someone other than Ursinus, which has won 12 of the last 13 titles, or F&M did not attain league glory.
At the start of the year, it seemed an afterthought that the Bears and Diplomats would gain the top two seeds, as they have every year since 2003, and be on a collision course for the championship game. But with the Blue Jays' resurgence under first-year coach Jane Wells, the league's traditional powerhouses are facing off earlier than expected.
Recent history – and the teams' first meeting this season – suggests that a nail-biter is in store. Six of the last seven games between the programs have been decided by one goal, including the Bears' 2-1 overtime victory in last year's CC final and the Diplomats' 3-2 overtime triumph in Collegeville on October 7.
A year ago, Bridget Sherry clinched Ursinus' fourth straight conference championship with a clutch overtime penalty stroke in an unforgettable battle. F&M, however, gained a measure of revenge with a 3-2 extra-time victory in the regular season. Sydney Cole scored two of the three goals for the Diplomats, including the game-winner 6:07 into the extra session.
Brooke Overly had one of the goals for Ursinus in that contest and has been the Bears' most consistent offensive weapon all year. Enjoying a spectacular senior season, Overly ranks second in the CC in goals (career-high 13) and points (30). She has five markers in her past three games, including a Senior Day hat trick to spark a 3-1 win over Johns Hopkins on October 21.
Behind Overly has been a balanced attack that includes sophomores Erin Saybolt (6 goals, 4 assists) and Gemma Dufoe (6 goals, 2 assists) and freshman Gabriela Howell, who is tied for the team lead with four assists and scored one of her three goals against F&M.
Freshman Devon Carroll has stepped into a starting role in the midfield and has produced a team-best four assists alongside fellow rookie starter Erin McIlhenny, Saybolt, junior Brianne Nicholas, and sophomore Anna Hall.
Junior Bridget Sherry, a two-time All-CC selection, anchors the defense along with a pair of two-year starters in senior Emma Frees and junior Mikayla Jordan. Sherry also has four goals on penalty strokes this season – eight in her career – and could play a big role if the opportunity arises.
Junior Jules Singer has been stout in her second year as the starting goalkeeper, posting a .718 save percentage and 1.87 goals-against average with three shutouts.
Singer and the Bears' back line will have to keep a close eye on F&M sophomore Erin Coverdale, who leads the CC in goals (15) and points (35). Junior Emily Nagle (10 goals, 3 assists) and seniors Cole (8 goals, 5 assists) and Annie Horsley (8 goals, 3 assists) – an All-CC first teamer a year ago – are also viable weapons on the attack.
Meanwhile, Overly and the offense will concentrate on breaking down a Diplomat defense that has allowed just 15 goals in 16 games this season. Junior goalkeeper Iliana Santangelo, a first team All-CC performer last season, leads the CC in goals-against average (0.91) while ranking just behind Hopkins' Jodie Baris in save percentage (.829).
F&M leads the CC in a number of categories, including goals (53), goals per game (3.3), shots per game (20.4), assists (29), and goals-against average (0.91).
Should the Bears advance to their fifth consecutive CC final, it would likely mean a rematch with Hopkins. Ursinus got the best of the first matchup, when Overly potted three straight second-half goals to spur an impressive home win.
Ursinus is 8-1 all-time against F&M in postseason play, and 6-1 against Hopkins. The Bears' last playoff meeting with the Blue Jays was a 7-0 rout in the 2014 semifinals, and Ursinus also defeated Hopkins in four consecutive CC title games from 2006 to 2009.