While football takes its annual midseason bye and cross country has the weekend off, the rest of the Muhlenberg fall sports teams travel to the Eastern Shore of Maryland looking to boost their playoff chances as the Centennial Conference season heads toward the second half.
Volleyball at Washington College (Saturday, 12:30); vs. Lancaster Bible (Saturday, 2:30)
Both teams came out of the gates in history-making fashion this year. Washington (14-5, 0-3) won nine of its first 10 matches for the first time in 36 years but has stumbled in Centennial Conference play, getting swept by Johns Hopkins, Gettysburg and Swarthmore in its first three league matches.
Muhlenberg, on the other hand, has remained hot and enters the tri-match having won 11 in a row to tie a school record. The Mules (18-2, 5-0) are off to their best CC start ever and are tied for first place with Swarthmore (which hosts McDaniel in a huge match on Saturday) and Haverford (idle Saturday).
A sweep of Washington and Lancaster Bible (13-8) would tie this year’s volleyball squad for the second-fastest to 20 wins in a season in Muhlenberg athletic history.
Muhlenberg has a 19-2 series lead against Washington, its lone losses coming in 1994 and 2010.
Live stats (Washington match) | Live video (Washington match) | Live stats (Lancaster Bible match)
Field Hockey at Washington College (Saturday, 1:00)
The marquee matchup of the Mules’ four on the shore is this game between two of the early leaders in the CC.
Washington (10-1, 3-1) has its best record after 11 games ever, losing only in double overtime to Johns Hopkins. Since then, the Shorewomen have won five in a row, outscoring their last three CC opponents by an 18-2 margin.
Muhlenberg (8-2, 4-1) comes in with a four-game winning streak that includes two victories against 2013 CC semifinalists Haverford and 20th-ranked Dickinson. The Mules are 8-2 after 10 games for the first time since 2003.
Both Muhlenberg and Washington have received votes in the Division III poll this season.
Washington leads the all-time series, 12-10, and had taken three meetings in a row before the Mules’ 4-0 win last year. Muhlenberg has won three of the last four meetings in Chestertown.
Men’s Soccer at Washington College (Saturday, 1:00)
Muhlenberg, ranked 20th by D3soccer.com, has experienced a little bit of everything in its four scheduled road games to date: a tie, a loss in double overtime, a game postponed due to weather and a game postponed due to field conditions. The Mules (7-1-2, 2-1-1) will look to add a win to that list.
Washington (4-6-1, 0-3-1) is winless in its last six games and has allowed a CC-high 19 goals this season. The Shoremen have long been a tough opponent no matter their record and this year is no exception; they lost by one goal to nationally ranked Salisbury and Dickinson.
Muhlenberg leads the all-time series, 24-1-2, with Washington’s lone win coming in Allentown in 2008. Of the 10 meetings in Chestertown since the start of CC play in 1993, six were decided by one goal and one ended in a tie.
Women’s Soccer at Washington College (Saturday, 4:00)
Muhlenberg (6-3-2, 2-2) opened the season with a school-record seven-game unbeaten streak but is winless in its last four. A win would put the Mules in the thick of the playoff race and back on track heading into Tuesday’s home game against 2013 CC runner-up Haverford.
Washington (3-6-1, 0-3) is still looking for its first goal in CC play this year and has won only once in 16 CC games dating back to the 2012 season.
Muhlenberg has won all 16 all-time meetings with Washington by a combined score of 51-3. The Shorewomen’s last goal against the Mules came in 2003.
Men’s Tennis vs. Oneonta State (Saturday, 12:00)
The lone home event of the weekend is the last fall match of the year for men’s tennis.
Golf (Saturday-Monday)
Both teams wrap up their fall seasons this weekend. The women play at Eagle Rock Golf Club in Hazleton on Saturday, and both teams compete in the Ursinus Invitational Sunday and Monday.