That is, if the conference meet is run in a torrential downpour and if the Haverford men do not compete with their top runners.

The Mule men finished second out of 15 teams, including seven CC squads, while the women were seventh (fifth among the seven CC teams running).

The men trailed Swarthmore by 19 points. The two teams both placed four runners in the top 15, but the Garnet’s fifth-place runner accounted for the large difference.

Junior Steve Rothwell finished fifth – third among Division III runners – and has now placed in the top 10 in all three of his races this year. Junior Tim Seeley scored his first career top-10 finish, coming in ninth.

Junior Karen Mount was the top CC runner in the women’s race, crossing the line third behind two Division I competitors from Towson. But Muhlenberg’s next finisher came in 40th, and the Mules were six points behind fifth-place Johns Hopkins and two behind Swarthmore.

Click here for Muhlenberg box score.
Click here for complete women’s results.
Click here for complete men’s results.

Junior LisaAnn Polt scored the game winner for Muhlenberg (8-5, 3-2) with 36.8 seconds to play in the first half, less than four minutes

Lauren Schram has allowed just six goals in the Mules’ last six games.

after Dickinson (2-9, 1-4) had tied the game at one. From just inside the circle, Rutt directed the ball towards the goal and Polt was able to tap it in.

Rutt opened the scoring 15 minutes into the game when she dribbled through three defenders and beat the goalie one-on-one.

Trailing 2-1 in the second half, Dickinson applied heavy pressure, including a few breakaway attempts, but Muhlenberg was able to bear down on defense and maintain the lead. The Red Devils were awarded a penalty stroke three minutes into the second half, but Lauren Schram preserved the Mule lead with one of her seven saves on the evening.

“We were feeling very confident out there,” said freshman Julie deLaurentis. “They came out very strong, especially in the second half, but we pulled it together and did everything we could to keep them off the board.”

Rutt provided some breathing room with 5:23 to play when Muhlenberg converted off a penalty corner. After two successful passes, sophomore Nikki Rhoads maneuvered a third one to Rutt, whose shot went through a number of defenders and produced a 3-1 lead. The penalty corner was awarded after sophomore Kelly Shetron was interfered with on a breakaway chance.

The Mules and Red Devils played through a steady rainfall.

“It really didn’t bother us,” said Rutt. “Our visibility was low, but we worked really together. They came out hard, but we stuck to our game and executed. It feels good to win in these conditions.”

Click here for box score.