BY MORNING SENTINEL STAFF

Hamilton College is everything you would expect from a team ranked fourth in the country. The Continentals have just one loss in 18 games, as well as a stellar offense and defense.

But Colby has been the underdog a lot recently. It's a role the Mules will know well when they take on Hamilton at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in an NCAA Division III women's lacrosse regional semifinal in Hamilton, N.Y.

"We've played with our backs up against the wall and we've been successful," said Colby coach Karen MacCrate Henning, whose team won the New England Small College Athletic Conference tournament as the No. 5 seed. "So we have to be optimistic that we've been in that situation before and (won)."

A win would not only put Colby in the national semifinals at 1 p.m. Sunday for the first time in school history, but would tie the school record for wins in a season. The Mules are 13-5 this spring, and they finished 14-4 in 2006, when they lost in the regional semifinals.

The teams have one common opponent. Hamilton defeated Union by scores of 10-7 and 11-10, while Colby lost to Union 17-5 in Florida. That game was in March, and the Mules have been playing much better of late.

Colby is scoring 15 goals per game, but something will have to give, as Hamilton isn't even allowing 15 shots per game. Hamilton has allowed more than 10 goals in a game only once all season, but Henning said she isn't going into the game with an idea that Colby needs a certain number of shots.

"I kind of look at it as we just have to go out and play our game," she said.

Hamilton's offense will also be a concern for Colby. While Colby has three players with at least 30 goals -- NESCAC Player of the Year Kate Sheridan (56), Becky Julian (47) and Amy Campbell (41) -- Hamilton has six players with at least 30, and another with 27.

Kaillie Briscoe (59 goals, 35 assists) and Liberty League Player of the Year Nicole Tetreault (47-18) are the top scorers for Hamilton.

"We definitely have people stepping up each game," Hamilton coach Patty Kloidt said. "We try to keep our opponents on their toes a little bit as far as not focusing on one or two kids. We like to have seven threats on the field at all times."

Although Colby is accustomed to the underdog role, the Mules are still ranked ninth in Division III because of the strength of the NESCAC. They also got another honor when Julian was named the National Division III Player of the Week by womenslacrosse.com on Thursday.

"Colby comes from a really tough conference," Kloidt said. "I have a lot of respect for the NESCAC."

Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com