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BY ANDREW GREENBLATT

In print | Published April 23, 2009

The Garnet men’s lacrosse team’s 16-5 loss to sixth-ranked Gettysburg on Saturday spoiled Swarthmore’s senior recognition day and dropped them into a three-way tie for fourth place in the Centennial Conference.

Since only the top four teams make the conference playoffs, Saturday’s loss has sparked a mad dash to the finish, which could be decided by multiple tiebreakers.

Following pre-game ceremonies in which graduating seniors David DeSimone, Jesse Handler, Henry Heaton, Jacob Metzger, Will Predun, Stelios Wilson and Ben Young were honored, the Garnet got off to a fast start on the reigning conference champs by winning the first face-off and putting in the first goal.

After some solid defensive play over Gettysburg’s first few possessions, things began to go the way of the Bullets, who scored six straight goals to end the half. The visitors ultimately sealed the victory with stark defense and superior play.

“They played to their potential. They’re a great team. I can’t put it any other way,” Predun said.
He was quick to add, “If we make the playoffs we’d love to see them again.”

That playoff mentality will suit the Garnet well going into their final game against #8 Haverford (7-0 in conference) on Saturday.

With a win, the Garnet would put themselves in a favorable position to make the Centennial conference playoffs, while a loss almost assures that they will be watching from Swarthmore’s leafy green campus.

Swarthmore is currently tied with McDaniel and Muhlenberg for the final playoff spot.

To break the tie, the conference first looks at the head-to-head record of each team involved in the tie.

The Garnet beat McDaniel but lost to Muhlenberg in double overtime, and McDaniel has beaten Muhlenberg. Thus each team has a 1-1 record within the tie.

The next tiebreaker compares each team’s record against the top teams in the conference. On Saturday, Swarthmore has a chance to separate itself from the pack.

Neither McDaniel nor Muhlenberg have beaten Haverford, so with a win, Swarthmore will clinch the final playoff spot, regardless of what Muhlenberg and McDaniel do.

As for Saturday’s game, Max Wilson ’10 said that the team is “caught up in the excitement.” He added that, “people are coming in an hour before practice to go to the weight room or work on one-on-ones.”

Predun cited the team’s short term goal as to make the playoffs with aspirations to win the conference, but when pressed for what’s most important to this squad, the answer was simple: “the final score [against Haverford].”

Wilson sung even more praise about this year’s group. “[We are] much more dedicated than in past years,” he said.

“The locker room has been very intense in comparison. … Everyone feels like they have a stake in the win. People want it to the point that they’re willing to sacrifice a lot.”

This weekend’s contest will not only be do-or-die for this team as a whole — it could also be the last game that this year’s seniors will ever play wearing the Garnet.

Admission to the ECAC postseason tournament is never guaranteed, and a loss would end their season, so this year’s graduating class has a golden opportunity to avenge their senior day loss.

It would also give Swarthmore its first Centennial Conference playoff berth in men’s lacrosse.

Come support the Garnet in their fight for the postseason this Saturday at Haverford at 1 p.m.

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