There is no denying that rivalries are one of the most intriguing and anticipated parts of sports. Each school, each team, each player has a counterpart who circles that rivalry game on the schedule from day one.

So what happens when a teammate turns into your rival and then once again becomes your teammate again? Just ask Muhlenberg soccer seniors Lance Dotzman and Bryan Attanasio.

Soccer led Dotzman and Attanasio to become good friends as they took the field for the same club team for years prior to high school. However, for two nights every fall, when they stepped foot on the pitch they became rivals; Dotzman played for Council Rock High School South while Attanasio played for Council Rock North.

“It was fun to be able to compete against a good friend in an atmosphere like that,” Attanasio (left) said. “In regards to soccer, high school was a lot less serious than club so that made the rivalry and playing against Lance that much more enjoyable.”

But with two players who are known to be true competitors on the Muhlenberg soccer team, there was bound to be a certain level of intensity that each enjoyed when the Council Rock rivalry was renewed each fall.

“When the game started we were enemies,” said Dotzman. “But when the final whistle blew we were friends again.”

Both enjoyed being able to share a rivalry from opposite sides with a good friend, but neither expected a new chapter to unfold when it was over.

“When I went early decision at Muhlenberg I received a short list of other players who had done the same and committed here,” explained Attanasio. “It wasn’t until then that I realized I was going to get to play with Lance again after not being teammates for the past four years. I was excited.”

That excitement was shared by Dotzman (right), who found out they would again be teammates in the fall of 2011 when he ran into Attanasio at a Muhlenberg soccer game his senior year.

They had an immediate impact for the Mules, appearing in 13 of 19 games as freshmen. As sophomores Dotzman started every game while Attanasio started in half before he was sidelined by an injury. Their junior campaign saw the duo start every game together, both earning second-team All-CC honors.

The Mule captains celebrate after Attanasio (left) assisted Dotzman on a goal vs. DeSales last week.

This season, they are core players, Dotzman as a central midfielder and Attanasio as a right back, for the undefeated and 21^st-ranked Mules.

Not only did Muhlenberg reunite them as teammates, but also now as co-captains.

“It has been a pleasure to be able to progress with Lance these past four years,” said Attanasio.

Dotzman agreed, saying the two of them know what each other is thinking and are on the same page both on and off the field. As for the rivalry, both say that it has been put behind them. The reason? Because each feels that their school is superior.

“I don’t consider him my rival,” Dotzman explained. “After winning the league my senior year, that was enough satisfaction.”

Even though Dotzman has his own championship to flaunt, his goal is to win one now with Attanasio. The co-captains are working to lead the Mules to their first Centennial Conference championship since 2005. No matter what they say, that’s one the former Council Rock rivals could share together.

by David Anderson ’15