Oct. 28, 2009

Center Valley, Pa. - With the Patriot League schedules nearing their completion, Tournament berths are on the line in men and women's soccer, field hockey and volleyball this weekend. The entire field and seeds will be set in field hockey and women's soccer as the sports enter their final regular-season games, while teams try to clinch spots in men's soccer and volleyball.

Here is a sport-by-sport breakdown of the outlook for Tournament berths and seeding heading into the weekend.

Field Hockey

The final regular-season Patriot League field hockey games will be played on Saturday, with two tournament berths and each seed in the field still on the line. Only American and Bucknell have clinched their spot in the event. On Saturday, Lafayette visits Colgate and Holy Cross goes to Bucknell. The schedule wraps up on Sunday with Lehigh at American.

American clinches the No. 1 seed with a win over Lehigh. The Eagles can also claim the No. 1 spot with a loss if Holy Cross and Colgate win in the other games. The Eagles can be no higher than the No. 3 seed if they lose and either Bucknell or Lafayette win.

Bucknell clinches the No. 1 seed with a win and an American loss. The Bison will be the No. 2 seed with a win if American wins, or with a loss if Lehigh and Lafayette both win. Any other scenario where Bucknell loses makes the Bison the No. 3 seed.

Lafayette clinches a Tournament berth with a win over Colgate, and can move as high as the No. 1 seed if Lehigh and Holy Cross also win. The Leopards can still make the field with a loss if Lehigh also loses.

Lehigh clinches a Tournament berth with a win over American, and would be the No. 2 seed in the field with a win and a Lafayette loss. Lehigh can still get in the field with a loss if Holy Cross also loses.

Holy Cross will get in the field with a victory unless Lehigh and Lafayette win in the other contests. The Crusaders would be the No. 2 seed in the field with a win and a Lehigh loss. Holy Cross can only make the Tournament with a loss if American and Lafayette both lose.

For a complete game-by-game look at the potential field hockey seeding scenarios, click here

Women's Soccer

The Patriot League Tournament field is already set, with just seeds at stake among Bucknell, Colgate, Navy and American. The teams will match up this weekend, as Bucknell goes to Colgate and Navy visits American on Saturday.

Colgate will host League-leading Bucknell, with each team having a chance to clinch the top seed and home field advantage in the tournament with a win. Should the teams tie, Bucknell would be the top seed. Neither Bucknell nor Colgate can finish lower than third in the standings. Navy and American will also play on Saturday. Both teams could finish as high as second and as low as fourth in the final standings.

For a complete game-by-game look at the potential women's soccer seeding scenarios, click here

Men's Soccer

There are two more weekends of games remaining in men's soccer. On Friday, Army travels to Lehigh, Navy goes to Colgate and Lafayette visits Bucknell. The weekend slate wraps up on Saturday afternoon when American travels to Holy Cross.

American has already clinched a berth in the Patriot League Tournament. Two more teams will try to join the Eagles this weekend. With a win or a tie, Bucknell would claim a spot in the tournament. If Holy Cross and Lehigh lose or tie, Bucknell could reach the tournament even with a loss. Lafayette would secure a tournament berth with a win over Bucknell if Colgate and Navy tie or the Mids win. The Leopards could also reach the tournament with a win over Bucknell, and wins by American against Holy Cross and a Lehigh loss or tie to Army.

American can clinch the top seed and homefield advantage in the tournament with a win and a Bucknell loss or tie.

Volleyball

Just one game appears on the weekend slate for each of the Patriot League volleyball teams. In League action, Navy is at American on Thursday, Colgate goes to Bucknell and Lehigh vists Lafayette on Friday and Holy Cross is at Army on Saturday. Army is the only team in the field so far.

Colgate can join Army in the field for the Volleyball Tournament with a win over Bucknell.