It’s opening weekend of the 2012-13 season, and all seven Muhlenberg fall sports teams are in action – three at home, three others close by and one in Virginia. Here’s a quick look:
Men’s Soccer vs. Elizabethtown (Friday, 5:00); vs. Cortland State (Saturday, 5:00)
The Mules (10-6-1 last year) renew an old rivalry with Elizabethtown (10-7) in their season opener. In the late 1980s and early-to-mid 1990s, Muhlenberg and Elizabethtown were two of the “Big Three” (along with Messiah) of the Mid-Atlantic Region. The Blue Jays were the visitors for the first night game at Varsity Field in 1997. The teams haven’t met since 2008. Muhlenberg did play Cortland State (3-8-5) last year, winning 3-2.
live stats: www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/msoclive/xlive.htm
live video: www.livestream.com/muhlenberg
Women’s Soccer vs. Wilkes (Friday, 7:00); vs. Penn State Altoona (Saturday, 7:00)
The Mules open their season against two teams that were in the postseason last year. Wilkes (8-6-3) made the Freedom Conference playoffs, while Penn State Altoona (14-5-3) lost the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference championship game on penalty kicks and earned a bid to the ECAC South Tournament. After this weekend, Muhlenberg (6-10-2) has six straight road games over the next three weeks.
live stats: www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/wsoclive/xlive.htm
live video: www.livestream.com/muhlenberg
Field Hockey vs. Scranton (Friday, 7:00); vs. Elizabethtown (Saturday, 2:00)
Muhlenberg (5-12) played the same two opponents on opening weekend last year, losing to both on the road. Scranton was 12-6 last season, and Elizabethtown was 10-7, with both falling in the first round of their conference playoffs.
live stats: www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/fhlive/xlive.htm
live video (Elizabethtown game only): www.livestream.com/muhlenberg
Volleyball at Greyhound Premiere Invitational (starts Friday at 4:00)
Muhlenberg (10-18 last year) starts the season with matches against Wilkes (3-22), King’s (3-20), Wesley (5-26) and host Moravian (23-13). The last time the Mules were in this tournament, 2008, they went 3-1 to finish in second place.
tournament web page: http://moraviansports.com/sports/wvball/2012-13/premiere2012
Cross Country at Lehigh Invitational (Friday, 5:30)
For the ninth straight year, the Mules open up at Lehigh’s Goodman Campus Course in a field that includes Division I opponents Lehigh, Lafayette and Mount St. Mary’s. Last year, Samantha Mayden was the top Division III runner in the women’s race, coming in seventh overall.
Football at The Apprentice School (Saturday, 1:00)
The last time the Mules were scheduled to play a regular-season game in Newport News (at Christopher Newport in 2003), the game was cancelled by Hurricane Isabel. No danger of that this year as Muhlenberg (7-3 last year) opens its 111th season with its first game ever against the Builders (2-8).
live stats: http://livestats.prestosports.com/apprentice/