As nice as that is, it’s a four-team tournament at the end of the season that the Mules are more concerned about. Muhlenberg won its final four games last year to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Centennial Conference, but missed out on a league playoff berth

Sebright started 16 games for a defense that allowed more than one goal only five times in 19 games last year.

because of tiebreakers – despite going 2-2 against the four teams that did qualify. Among the returning players, there is a sense of “unfinished business” as the team prepares to open the 2003 season.

“Things were clicking at the end of the year for us, but it just didn’t work out with the tiebreakers,” said senior Danielle Kline, who will captain the team along with classmate Lauren Jacobs. “We definitely felt we could have been very competitive [in the playoffs]; it’s a shame we didn’t get that opportunity.”

Muhlenberg tied a school record with 14 wins (against five losses) in 2002. In order to approach that level again, the Mules must successfully break in a new goalie. Sophomore Jennifer Bielsten and freshman Lauren Schram will aim to fill the boots of a four-year starter who graduated as the program’s all-time saves leader.

“We have some key defenders who will keep us in games and be able to guide whoever is in the cage,” noted Kline. “In the past it was the goalie directing them. Hopefully now they can return the favor.”

Those veteran defenders include juniors Sarah Fosdick, Pamela Coakley and Andrea Sebright and senior Alissa Maurer, all of whom saw considerable playing time in 2002. Fosdick is a third-year starter who led the Mules with six defensive saves last year.

Offensively, Muhlenberg returns one of the top threats in the CC in junior Kristen Bruschi, who set school records with 19 goals and 44 points to earn All-South Region honors a year ago. Jacobs (eight assists, second-team All-CC), sophomores Alexa Sterbinsky (three goals, five assists) and Katie Thomas (two goals, three assists) and Kline will also be expected to contribute to the offense.

Including their tournament, the Mules have eight games on the schedule before beginning CC play on Sept. 27 with a home game against defending champion McDaniel.

“Hopefully we can use these first non-conference games to get our confidence up,” said Kline. “Then when we hit the conference games we’ll really be looking good.”