Daniel McCall’s tip of this fourth-quarter field-goal try was the Mules’ second blocked kick in as many games. Photo courtesy of billjohnsonphotos.com.

The defense held the Green Terror to 79 yards on 41 carries – an average of 1.9 yards per try. This came a year after McDaniel ran up and down the field on the Mules, to the tune of 295 rushing yards.

McDaniel’s six first-half possessions ended with five punts and a fumble. Of the 25 plays the Green Terror ran, only two were in Muhlenberg territory, and those were from the 44-yard line.

Senior linebacker Tony Briscella was named to the Centennial Conference Weekly Honor Roll for his part in the defensive effort.

After managing only 202 total yards against Kings Point, the offense produced 364 yards and had no three-and-out drives. Junior Nick Rosetti, making his first career start at quarterback, threw for 245 yards – the most by a Centennial Conference QB so far this season.

Senior Joe Getz downed his two punts at the 1-yard line and the 6-yard line, with the second leading up to the Mules’ lone touchdown.

“We played a lot better, but it was the same old song,” said Kodi Shay, who also was named to the Honor Roll after gaining 284 all-purpose yards.

Muhlenberg will try to change its tune next Saturday at Franklin & Marshall, which had the week off after a 1-2 start. Elsewhere in the CC, Johns Hopkins improved to 4-0 with a 21-0 shutout of Carnegie Mellon; Ursinus blanked Mount Ida, 47-0; Gettysburg defeated Averett, 23-7; and Dickinson suffered its first loss of the season, 21-0 to Kings Point.

Sophomore Amy Schmidt found the net first for Muhlenberg against Johns Hopkins.

After some recent frustration, the Mules wanted a fresh start.

“We were trying to erase what’s happened before and start our season with Hopkins,” said freshman Kristen Cioeta.

Their new beginning was a good one. The Mules knocked off defending conference champion Johns Hopkins, 2-0, Saturday at Varsity Field. It was a much-needed win for a team that had started conference play on the wrong foot.

The Mules gave up two goals in the first 20 minutes and played poorly throughout a Sept. 20 loss to McDaniel. It was not the way Muhlenberg had envisioned starting the follow-up to last year’s 9-1 conference campaign.

“We didn’t play up to our potential,” Cioeta said.

The team had a week off between games and was ready when the Blue Jays arrived Saturday. The win avenged the Mules’ only CC loss of 2002 and ended Hopkins’ three-game winning streak.

“I think it’s pretty big,” said Cioeta, whose second-half goal, the first of her career, sealed the victory. “Hopefully this will turn everything around.”

Muhlenberg is now headed in the right direction with the meat of the conference schedule approaching. The win moved the Mules into the middle of the CC pack and spared them the tough task of climbing out of an 0-2 hole. They host Swarthmore Tuesday before hitting the road for four straight games.

If last year is any indication, Saturday’s win might give them the momentum shift they need. After losing to Hopkins, the 2002 Mules won their final nine games of the season.