First Ever Conference Tourney Appearance For Swarthmore Lacrosse

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Division III Centennial Conference Tournament in men's lacrosse gets underway this week and for the first time ever, Swarthmore College will be taking part.

The Garnet are the No. 4 seed and they will open things up in the semifinals against an outstanding Gettysburg team on Wednesday.

Swarthmore head coach Pat Gress says he has a special group this season.

"They were a little different in terms of their commitment level," Gress tells KYW Newsradio. "Each year we have guys who give us a lot, but this year was a little different in the sense that you could tell that each man on the roster, whether they were playing a lot or a reserve player, really were committed to what we were doing. In the off-season program and the fall program, you could tell this team was on board every step of the way."

Listen to the entire interview with Swarthmore head coach Pat Gress

Swarthmore went 10-5 during the regular season (5-3 in the Centennial). They will take on 12-2 (8-0 in the Centennial) Gettysburg team. And while Swarthmore is in the tournament for the first time, Gettysburg has WON it nine times since it was instituted back in 2001.

"They have a great midfield line," Gress says. "Their first midfield line is athletic and they can shoot the ball. But, historically, Gettysburg has been a defensive team. They don't leave a stone unturned in terms of their defensive rotations and their coverages."

Swarthmore and Gettysburg will play at 4:00pm on Wednesday.

The other Centennial Conference semifinal will feature Ursinus taking on F & M. The two winners will play on Saturday for the title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.