Everybody loves an underdog. You know the team that gets picked to finish last, but comes out on top? Muhlenberg College has had its share of underdogs, most recently the 2001 volleyball team, picked to finish sixth in the conference only to end the season with 20 wins and a share of the regular-season title.

The Muhlenberg field hockey team could be staring at the same fate in 2002. Picked to

Fasolino ranks second in team history with 365 career saves and needs 34 more to become the all-time leader.

finish eighth by Centennial Conference coaches in a preseason poll (at left), the Mules have the opportunity to turn a few heads. Coach Kristen Stuckel thinks, “It’s tougher to be at the top. We would rather be the underdog, so we can come out and surprise some people.”

With high expectations for the season, Muhlenberg is looking forward to facing the challenge head on. The Mules, 8-9 last year, have the first home event of the 2002-03 school year, hosting Delaware Valley in a non-league game on Saturday.

Stuckel places a premium on achieving a top-four finish in the conference and a trip to

School 2001 Record Points Johns Hopkins (4) 6-3 73 Washington (3) 7-2 69 Gettysburg (2) 6-3 67 F & M 7-2 57 McDaniel (1) 6-3 53 Swarthmore 4-5 39 Dickinson 4-5 33 MUHLENBERG 4-5 32 Haverford 1-8 18 Bryn Mawr 0-9 9

the playoffs. To attain this goal, she says, “Players need to be comfortable with their roles on the team and the importance that each role has. Once we are in sync with each other then those goals can be accomplished and will help us to work as a unified program.”

Returning for the Mules in goal this season is senior Josephine Fasolino, who was awarded All-CC honorable mention and amassed 123 saves in 2001, bringing her career total to 365. The defense looks solid with the return of senior captain Kristen Best and sophomore Sarah Fosdick. Best appeared and started in all 17 games for the Mules, providing consistent support for a Mule defense that allowed only 19 goals in 17 games.

In midfield, junior Lauren Jacobs will be key to distributing the ball. Up front for Muhlenberg are senior captains Holly Pico and Laura Diez. Pico provided explosive offense for the Mules in 2001, leading the team with seven goals and 17 points. Diez contributed five goals on the season, the third-ost on the Muhlenberg squad. Joining them is sophomore Kristen Bruschi, who had five goals and three assists in 2001, accumulating 13 points.

With the addition of a strong freshman class, Muhlenberg is ready to make its move. “Our players are focusing on their individual actions each game and how that will affect the season overall,” said Stuckel. “We want to take things step by step.”

The first CC step comes on September 28, during Homecoming weekend, against Franklin & Marshall.