For the second year in a row, the Riverhawks will play the Harford Fighting Owls on Thursday in the National Junior College Athletic Association Mid-Atlantic district playoffs.

If the Riverhawks beat the Fighting Owls, they’ll play in the NJCAA national postseason in Rochester, New York from May 13-14.

“It would mean a lot to me [to go to nationals],” defender Megan Meek told Campus Current last week. “In high school, we weren’t always the most successful. So coming to a college team, [we have] such a good relationship. I’m really looking forward to winning it together.”

This will be the seventh time in the last 10 years the Riverhawks have faced the Fighting Owls in the playoffs. In that 10-year span, the Riverhawks are 4-3 against the Fighting Owls.

Women’s lacrosse head coach Jim Griffiths said the season will be a bust if the team doesn’t win nationals.

“When you’re number one [and] you’re undefeated, you’re probably projected to win,” Griffiths said. “And if you don’t, it’s a disappointment.”

The Riverhawks lost 18-6 last year to the Fighting Owls in the NJCAA Mid-Atlantic district playoffs.

This season, the Riverhawks, who finished the campaign 7-0, defeated the Fighting Owls 18-4 on April 17 at home. 

Midfielder Julia Sokolowski led the team during the regular season in scoring and assists. Sokolowski scored 39 goals and had 16 assists. Goalie Kaitlyn Evans started all seven games and had a 8.14 goal average.

Reporter Aidan Gunn contributed to this article.