Muhlenberg College • Allentown, Pa.

MEANT TO BE: FOOTBALL DRAWS CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT More than two months after they were supposed to play, the football teams from Muhlenberg and Christopher Newport will finally get to face each other in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Sept. 20 scheduled game between the Mules and Captains was cancelled due to Hurricane Isabel. The NCAA match is slated to take place on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 12:00 at POMOCO Stadium in Newport News, Va. The winner advances to face the winner of the Waynesburg-at-Bridgewater game in the round of 16. The other teams in the bracket are Lycoming, which received a first-round bye, defending national runner-up Trinity (Texas) and East Texas Baptist. Both Muhlenberg and Christopher Newport are 7-2 overall and tied for the conference championships with 5-1 marks. Muhlenberg tied Johns Hopkins, and CNU shared first place with Shenandoah. Both teams have won seven in a row this season, although the Mules’ streak is current and the Captains’ ended with a 19-17 loss to Ferrum on Saturday. Both teams also feature strong defenses. Christopher Newport has allowed only 88 points all season, while Muhlenberg has given up 113. The teams have a common opponent in McDaniel (the Captains won, 7-6, and the Mules lost, 22-9). “I’m excited to go down there and get to show them what we’re about,” said senior co-captain Chris Radomski. “Coming off the [season-opening] loss to Kings Point, that might not have been a good time to play them, but we’re a better team now than we were then.”

Loss Brings Tough End to Great Season The Muhlenberg women’s soccer team kept up with No. 2 Scranton, but could not put the ball in the net, falling by a 1-0 score in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The Royals (22-0-1) came out strong and scored a goal in the 11th minute. Junior Sara Suchoski served a corner kick into the box, and senior Megan Calpin headed it in for the game’s only goal. The Mules (16-4-2) responded, getting some pressure before the end of the half, but were unable to convert on any opportunities. The teams traded chances throughout the second half, but neither squad could score. Muhlenberg came close a few times, but could not finish any of its opportunities. One shot went over the crossbar, then junior Rebecca Armstrong’s shot hit the bar minutes later. “We just couldn’t get the ball in the net,” said Courtney Levine, one of six Mule seniors taking the field for the last time. “We gave it all we could, and we were just a little unfortunate.” The Mules were not the first team to have trouble scoring on the Royals, who have only allowed two goals all season. Scranton will advance to face Oneonta State in the national quarterfinals next week. The loss ends a successful season for the Mules, who were undefeated in their previous 13 games, finished 9-1 in the Centennial Conference, won their third CC title in four years and advanced to the third round of NCAAs for the second time in three. “We had a great run,” said Levine. “This is the best group of girls I’ve come across.” Click here for box score.

Questions or comments? Send mail to falk@muhlenberg.edu Last updated November 16, 2003