The Muhlenberg football team is ranked seventh in the ECAC Lambert Poll heading into the final week of the 2002 season.

Established in 1936 as the “Lambert Trophy” to recognize supremacy in eastern college football, the award has since grown to recognize the best teams in the East in Divisions I-A, I-AA, II and III. There are 74 schools eligible for the Lambert Poll in Division III.

Lambert Poll
1. Rowan (9-0)
2. Widener (8-1)
3. McDaniel (8-1)
4. King’s (7-2)
5. Springfield (7-1)
6. Salisbury (9-0)
7. Muhlenberg (8-1)
8. Mass.-Dartmouth (10-0)
9t. Hobart (7-1)
9t. Wash. & Jeff. (7-2)
9t. Kings Point (7-2)

Moravian, the Mules’ opponent on Saturday, is tied for 13th in the poll.

In other football polls, Muhlenberg is ranked 31st in Division III by the American Football Coaches Association and 39th by Football Gazette.

Three Muhlenberg soccer players have been elected to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-District College Division Team, chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

To be nominated for the Verizon Academic All-America program, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore with a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average and a starter or significant reserve on his or her team.

Senior David Vassilaros of the men’s team was the Mules’ lone first-team selection. He will go on the ballot for the Academic All-America team, which is scheduled to be announced on Monday, Nov. 25.

Vassilaros, an economics major, was a third-team Academic All-American last year. A forward, he started the final 14 games of the 2002 season and tied for second on the team with 10 points on four goals and two assists. He finished his career with 39 points.

Also honored from the men’s team was senior midfielder Tom Hartey, who was selected to the Academic All-District second team. A computer science major, Hartey scored two goals in 2002 and had 10 for his career.

Chosen for the women’s third team was junior forward Dawn Iberer, a psychology major. She was a second-team All-American last year and led Muhlenberg with 17 goals this season.