Category Archives: soccer

Weekend Preview

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The last full weekend of the fall season has two teams competing for Centennial Conference championships and another trying to earn a playoff spot.

Men’s Soccer vs. Ursinus (Saturday, 11:00)

The Mules (9-5-1, 5-3) are in a three-way tie for third place in the CC with Franklin & Marshall and Swarthmore. They need a win or a tie to clinch a spot in the CC playoffs for the 11th straight year.

Muhlenberg is undefeated (5-0-1) at home this season and undefeated (25-0-2) against Ursinus since 1985. The Bears (3-11-3, 2-5-1) have already played spoiler once this season, defeating then-No. 9 Swarthmore two weeks ago.

Live stats: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/msoclive/xlive.htm

Live video: http://www.livestream.com/muhlenberg

Cross Country at Centennial Conference Championships (Saturday, 11:00)

Dickinson is the host for the first CC championship event of the 2011-12 school year. The Mule women are ranked fifth in the region and will look to improve on their sixth-place finish of a year ago. The men also were sixth in 2010.

Football vs. Dickinson (Saturday, 1:00)

It may be Family Weekend at Muhlenberg, but it will feel like Homecoming for the football team, which has not played at home in four weeks. Turnovers could play a role in the outcome, as the Mules (4-3, 4-2) lead the CC with 22 takeaways and the Red Devils (3-4, 3-3) have a league-high 22 giveaways.

Muhlenberg leads the all-time series 39-25-2. In the last two games at Scotty Wood Stadium, a team came back from at least 16 points down to win.

Live stats: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/livestats/xlive.htm

Live video: http://www.livestream.com/muhlenberg

Live audio (WMUH): http://www.muhlenberg.edu/wmuh/stream.html

the game will also be televised live on Service Electric TV2

Field Hockey vs. Ursinus (Friday, 7:00)

The Mules wrap up their season on Senior Night against the 11th-ranked team in Division III.

Live stats: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/fhlive/xlive.htm

Live video: http://www.livestream.com/muhlenberg

Volleyball at Seahawk Invitational

Muhlenberg finishes up its season at St. Mary’s with two matches Friday (vs. Wesley and Bridgewater) and two Saturday (vs. Lynchburg and CCNY).

Tournament updates: http://www.smcmathletics.com/sports/wvball/2011-12/vb_invitational

Weekend Preview

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Fall is in the air as the fall seasons come to a close – it’s the second-to-last weekend of the regular season for soccer, volleyball and field hockey, and all Mule teams are on the road.

Men’s Soccer at Gettysburg (Saturday, 7:00)

Muhlenberg plays the first of back-to-back crucial Centennial Conference road games under the lights at Gettysburg. The Mules (8-4-1, 4-2) are in a three-way tie for second place in the CC, one point ahead of the Bullets (6-6-1, 3-2-1).

Gettysburg started out 3-0-1 in the CC but has lost its last two games to Swarthmore and Haverford. The Bullets have played six 1-0 games and a 0-0 tie.

Muhlenberg has won three straight CC games following road losses to Johns Hopkins and Swarthmore. Like the Bullets, the Mules have allowed only four goals in six CC games.

Muhlenberg leads the all-time series 33-18-6, including a 12-4-2 margin in CC competition. The Mules have won four straight meetings, the last three by shutout.

Live stats/video: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/gettysburg.portal#

Football at Juniata (Saturday, 1:00)

Muhlenberg looks to rebound from a disappointing loss at Gettysburg last week against a team it has never lost to. In fact, since Juniata joined the Centennial Conference in 2007, it has not scored an offensive touchdown against the Mules. The Eagles come in with an 18-game losing streak.

Live stats: http://livestats.prestosports.com/juniata/fball/?e=48rzf5y9ljoi9d44

Live audio (WMUH): http://www.muhlenberg.edu/wmuh/stream.html

Volleyball at Gettysburg (Saturday, 12:00); Women’s Soccer at Gettysburg (Saturday, 4:00)

Both Muhlenberg teams need a win to keep their Centennial Conference playoff hopes alive, but it won’t be easy: Gettysburg volleyball is 7-0 in the CC, and the Bullets women’s soccer team is 6-1.

Live stats/video: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/gettysburg.portal#

Field Hockey at Gettysburg (Friday, 3:30)

Muhlenberg looks for its first win at Gettysburg since 1993. The Bullets have won their last three CC games to climb back into the playoff race.

Live stats/video: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/gettysburg.portal#

Athletes of the Week

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for contests between October 10 and October 16

Female Athlete of the Week – Brittany DeAngelis, Field Hockey

DeAngelis recorded four defensive saves in games against King’s and Franklin & Marshall to become the program’s all-time leader with 20 in her career. Her three stops against F&M helped the Mules stay close against the second-ranked team in Division III. DeAngelis leads the Centennial Conference with 9 defensive saves (one short of the school record) this season.

Male Athlete of the Week – Jacob Joseph, Soccer

Joseph assisted on both goals in the Mules’ important 2-1 win against Franklin & Marshall. The win put Muhlenberg in a three-way tie for second place in the Centennial Conference. It was the first career multiple-assist game for Joseph, who is tied four fourth in the CC with 4 assists this season and is tied for the lead among active Mules with 7 career assists in only two seasons.

Hometown Heroes

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If things had been just a little bit different, and the same people scored the goals, last night’s 2-1 men’s soccer win by Muhlenberg against Franklin & Marshall could have gone the other way.

Both of the Mule goal-scorers grew up not far from F&M. Senior Josh Luginbuhl, who scored the first goal, hails from Denver, Pa., about 20 minutes from the F&M campus. Junior Danny Way, who netted what proved to be the winning goal, is from right in Lancaster.

Way (right) never considered attending F&M because he felt it was too close, but for Luginbuhl (below), his final choice was between Muhlenberg and F&M.

The two schools have plenty in common when it comes to men’s soccer. Both are top-notch programs from one of the most competitive Division III leagues. Both regularly appear in the regional rankings and are no strangers to the national top 25. Both are trying to break the Johns Hopkins-Swarthmore hold on the title that has existed for the last five years.

F&M lost to Hopkins in the CC final in 2006 and was the top seed for the CC playoffs in 2007. Muhlenberg was the top seed in 2009 and lost to Swarthmore in the championship game last year.

Johns Hopkins and Swarthmore entered yesterday’s action in the top two spots in the CC, but both suffered unexpected losses, tightening up the race. With three games remaining, one point separates the top four teams. Johns Hopkins is in first with a 4-1-1 record (13 points), while Swarthmore, Muhlenberg and Dickinson are all 4-2 (12 points).

This is the fifth time in the last seven years that the top seed for the CC playoffs will have at least two blemishes on its record. Anything can happen, and the difference between triumph and heartbreak can be very slim – it could even come down to what college someone chose to attend.

“For the last four years, and especially tonight, I’m very happy I chose Muhlenberg,” said Luginbuhl after the game.

photos by Lisa Youngentob

Weekend Preview

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Nationally ranked teams and offenses provide some of the opposition for the Mules as the teams begin their stretch run.

Men’s Soccer vs. Franklin & Marshall (Saturday, 7:00)

This is a rematch of a 2010 Centennial Conference semifinal, won by Muhlenberg 4-0. In last year’s regular-season meeting, the teams played to a 1-1 draw.

Both teams are aiming to return to the playoffs in what is shaping up as a six-team race for five spots. Muhlenberg and F&M are in a three-way tie with Dickinson for fourth place with four CC games remaining.

The Mules (7-3-1, 3-2) are ranked third in the Mid-Atlantic Region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America; the Diplomats (7-3-2, 3-2) are fourth. The two CC losses for both teams are by one goal to Swarthmore and Johns Hopkins.

Live stats: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/msoclive/xlive.htm

Live video: http://www.livestream.com/muhlenberg

Football at Gettysburg (Saturday, 1:00)

The Mules (3-2, 3-1) return from their bye to take on one of the top offenses in Division III. The Bullets (3-2, 3-1) are averaging 552.4 yards per game (first in Division III) and 47.8 points per game (second in Division III). Gettysburg also is allowing 42.2 points per game, and Muhlenberg has scored at least 30 points in all three of its wins. The Mules’ two losses are to undefeated teams ranked in the top 15 in Division III.

Live stats/video: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/gettysburg.portal

Live audio (WMUH): http://www.muhlenberg.edu/wmuh/stream.html

Field Hockey vs. Franklin & Marshall (Saturday, 1:00)

The Diplomats are ranked No. 2 in Division III, although they will fall in next week’s poll after losing to No. 4 Lynchburg, 5-0, earlier this week.

Live stats: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/fhlive/xlive.htm

Live video: http://www.livestream.com/muhlenberg

Women’s Soccer vs. Franklin & Marshall (Saturday, 4:00)

Muhlenberg completes a stretch of three games in four days against another team that is looking to earn a playoff berth. The Mules (6-6-2, 3-2-1) are currently in fifth place in the CC, and F&M (5-4-1, 3-3) is tied for sixth.

Live stats: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/wsoclive/xlive.htm

Live video: http://www.livestream.com/muhlenberg

Volleyball vs. Lebanon Valley (Saturday, 10:00); vs. Stevenson (Saturday, 12:00)

The Mules take a break from CC play with a tri-match at Lebanon Valley.

Cross Country at Leopard Invitational (Saturday, 10:00)

The Muhlenberg teams run at Lafayette in their final tuneup for the Centennial Conference Championships.

A Bunch of Zeroes

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The Muhlenberg men’s soccer team has more clean sheets* than the local laundromat.

Heading into tonight’s game with Drew, the Mules (7-2-1) have seven shutouts in their first 10 games – the first time they’ve done that since the 1990 team blanked eight of its first 10 opponents.

In the latest NCAA Division III statistical rankings, Muhlenberg was sixth in shutout percentage, ninth in save percentage (.906) and 14th in team goals-against average (0.48).

The Mules, who are ranked 20th by D3soccer.com and 21st by the NSCAA, have shut down some offenses that are used to scoring, too. DeSales ranks 25th in the nation in scoring offense and scored a goal against top-ranked Messiah, but was blanked by Muhlenberg. The latest two shutout victims, New Jersey and Washington, had both been shut out only once this season prior to playing the Mules.

“We don’t get any ink in the paper, so that is really what we have to go by,” said junior center back Kyle Plifka of seeing a zero on the scoreboard at the end of the game. “We take a lot of pride in that.”

Good defense has long been a hallmark of Muhlenberg men’s soccer; the 1988 team set a national record (since broken) with 13 consecutive shutouts. Last year’s “Sweet 16” squad allowed only 14 goals in 22 games, with 12 shutouts.

But that team lost an All-America goalie and two all-region backs. The Mules’ impressive run of shutouts has come with a cast that is more than half new. Plifka and sophomore left back Ryan Barlotta are the lone returning starters from 2010. Center back Jonathan Schauer (pictured) started eight games last year as a freshman, some at back and some at midfield. Right back Bryan Attanasio is a freshman, and the two goalies, junior Ari Nutovits and sophomore Jas Chojnowski, played a total of five minutes in goal last year.

Senior Conor Choi and sophomore Bucky Aronoff have also filled in on the back line.

“They’re all so talented, it makes it easy,” said Plifka. “Most of those guys were battling for playing time last year, so we weren’t really worried about who we lost.”

So what’s the secret to the success of the Muhlenberg defense?

“Hard work on the back line, that’s about it,” said Plifka.

* Ever wonder about the origin of the phrase “clean sheet”? Here’s what Wikipedia has to say: The term first appeared in the 1930s. Sports reporters of the era used separate pieces of paper to record the different statistical details of a game. If one team did not allow a goal, then that team’s “details of goals conceded” page would appear blank, leaving a clean sheet.

 

Athletes of the Week

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for contests between October 3 and October 9

Female Athlete of the Week – Holly Hynson, Volleyball

Hynson hit .466 and averaged 3.63 kills per set to lead the Mules to road wins against Bryn Mawr and Washington. She had 18 kills in only 29 attempts against the Shorewomen, recording kills on seven consecutive hits and scoring four straight points in the pivotal second set. Her 18 kills were the most by the Muhlenberg freshman since 2002, and the two wins gave the Mules four in the CC (twice as many as they had all last year).
 
Male Athlete of the Week – Jas Chojnowski, Soccer
 
Chojnowski made a splashy debut in goal, playing 155 scoreless minutes for the Mules, making 13 saves, in his first career varsity action. He came in at halftime after Muhlenberg’s starting goalie was injured and made seven saves in a scoreless tie against New Jersey. He then became the first Mule goalie since 2001 to record a shutout in his first career start, stopping six shots in a 1-0 win at Washington.

Weekend Preview

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Due to Yom Kippur and football having a bye, the schedule is a little different this weekend, with only men’s cross country competing on Saturday.

Field Hockey at Washington (Friday, 3:00)

Muhlenberg puts its three-game winning streak up against another team on a streak. Washington, a Centennial Conference semifinalist last year, has won five in a row and is currently tied for third place in the CC with a 3-1 record. Muhlenberg is 2-3 as it heads into a challenging second half of its league schedule.

Homefield advantage hasn’t been an advantage in this series of late – the road team has won the last five meetings, and the Mules are 4-1 in their last five trips to Chestertown.

The teams have a common result against a common non-conference opponent, both having beaten Drew in overtime.

The rejuvenated Muhlenberg offense has scored at least three goals in three straight games for the first time since 2006; the last time the Mules did that in four straight was 2000.

Live video: http://justin.tv/wcathletics

Live stats: http://www.washingtoncollegesports.com/sports/fh/live_stats

Volleyball at Washington (Friday, 5:00)

The Mules (5-12, 3-2) look to extend their CC winning streak to three and match their overall win total from all of last season. Washington (9-8, 0-4) has lost six of eight after a 7-2 start. Muhlenberg leads the all-time series 16-2, but one of the Shorewomen’s wins came last year.

Live video: http://justin.tv/wcathletics2

Live stats: http://www.washingtoncollegesports.com/sports/wvball/live_stats

Women’s Soccer at Washington (Friday, 5:00)

The Mules (4-5-2, 1-2-1) are perfect in 13 all-time meetings against Washington (2-7-1, 0-3-1). Muhlenberg hasn’t allowed a goal to the Shorewomen since 2003.

Live video: http://justin.tv/wcathletics

Live stats: http://www.washingtoncollegesports.com/sports/wsoc/live_stats

Men’s Soccer at Washington (Sunday, 1:00)

Like the women, the Muhlenberg men have enjoyed great success against Washington, with a 21-1-2 series lead. The Shoremen’s lone win came in Allentown in 2008. The Mules come in at 6-2-1 overall, 2-2 in the CC, while Washington is 3-5-2, 1-2-1.

Live video: http://justin.tv/wcathletics

Live stats: http://www.washingtoncollegesports.com/sports/msoc/live_stats

Men’s Cross Country at DeSales Invitational (Saturday, 10:30)

The Mules will run the same team that won the Falcon Classic three weeks ago.

Nothing Nothing

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Billy Preston sang “nothing from nothing leaves nothing,” and Julie Andrews sang “nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could,” but something did come from last night’s scoress tie in women’s soccer at Scranton.

Something that hadn’t happened since the very first game the Muhlenberg women’s soccer team played.

Mule goalie Michele Toher made 10 saves – including two spectacular diving stops late in regulation and early in overtime – against the regionally ranked Royals. It was the most saves by a Muhlenberg goalie in a scoreless tie since 1991, when Jen Samble made 29 against Swarthmore in the program’s first game as a varsity sport.

(Incidentally, Samble was on campus last weekend as a member of the 1991 softball team that got inducted into the Muhlenberg College Athletics Hall of Fame.)

There have been only nine scoreless ties in the program’s 21-year history. Here are the save totals from each of those games:

  • 1991 vs. Swarthmore – 29 (Jen Samble)
  • 1995 vs. Beaver – 6 (Jackie Vanderstreet)
  • 2003 vs. Moravian – 4 (Kayla Boisvert)
  • 2004 vs. Moravian – 5 (Stacey Spector)
  • 2005 vs. Scranton – 7 (Kayla Boisvert)
  • 2008 vs. Moravian – 2 (Kate Morrissey)
  • 2008 vs. Gettysburg – 4 (Michele Toher)
  • 2010 vs. St. Joseph’s – 2 (Michele Toher)
  • 2011 vs. Scranton – 10 (Michele Toher)

Scoreless ties generally fall into two categories: closely played games with low shot totals or games in which one team has a huge advantage in shots but just can’t put one in. Most of the Mules’ 0-0 draws have been of the first variety.

Toher’s 10 saves also were the most by a Muhlenberg goalie in a shutout effort since Stacey Spector made 11 against Dickinson in 2004. Those are the only two cases of a Mule keeper reaching double digits in saves in a shutout since 2000.

Although Toher didn’t match Samble’s save total, she did pass her on the program’s career list with her 17th shutout. Toher ranks third all-time.

And that’s something.

Weekend Preview

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Is it October already? Indeed it is, and the Mules teams begin the second half of their 2011 seasons on a weekend filled with home events.

Volleyball vs. Dickinson (Saturday, 11:00)

The Mules dig playing at home. In their last four matches at Memorial Hall, they defeated Albright and McDaniel and were very competitive with strong Moravian and Haverford teams. Now they’ll try to even their Centennial Conference record against 2-10 Dickinson.

The Mules also dig pediatric cancer research. Muhlenberg volleyball and the Centennial Conference are working together this year to raise money for Tanner’s Touch, a non-profit organization out of Westminster, Md., that raises awareness and funds to support pediatric cancer research. The Mules (who also play Mount St. Mary at 3:00) will collect pledges and donations for every dig they record in the match against Dickinson.

Live stats (Dickinson match only): http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/vblive/topview.htm

Live video (Dickinson match only): http://www.livestream.com/muhlenberg

Field Hockey vs. Dickinson (Friday, 7:00)

Muhlenberg will try to make it two wins in a row and capture its first Centennial Conference win of the season. Dickinson is also 0-3 in the CC.

Live stats: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/fhlive/xlive.htm

Live video: http://www.livestream.com/muhlenberg

Cross Country at Paul Short Run (Friday, 12:15 men and 1:00 women)

The Mules compete in one of the largest meets in the nation as they continue to prepare for the Centennial championship meet.

Results page: http://www.paulshortxcrun.com/PaulShort/PSLayer.php

Football vs. Susquehanna (Saturday, 1:00)

Susquehanna (3-1) makes its first trip to Allentown since 1992 having won its three games by a combined six points, all on the final play of the game. The loss was at Johns Hopkins, 56-7. The 2-2 Mules, looking to bounce back from a 27-17 loss at Hopkins last week, will try to take advantage of a Crusader defense that has allowed 450.0 yards and 39.8 points per game.

Live stats: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/livestats/xlive.htm

Live video: http://www.livestream.com/muhlenberg

Live audio (WMUH): http://www.muhlenberg.edu/wmuh/stream.html

Women’s Soccer vs. Dickinson (Saturday, 4:00)

Dickinson won the CC regular-season title and advanced to the “Sweet 16” of the NCAA Tournament last year but is just 1-2 in the CC to start this season. Muhlenberg (1-1-1) is looking to bounce back from an 0-2 weekend in Maryland.

Men’s Soccer vs. Haverford (Saturday, 7:00)

Muhlenberg (5-2, 1-2) is happy to be home after tough road trips to Johns Hopkins and Swarthmore, both of which resulted in one-goal losses. Haverford is 0-3 in the CC, with all three losses by a single goal, and also lost just 1-0 to top-ranked Messiah.