Senior punter Ryan Sassaman of the Muhlenberg football team has been named special teams co-player of the week by the Centennial Conference.

Sassaman threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Matt Johnson on a fake punt for the winning points as the Mules defeated William Paterson, 24-17. He also placed two of his four punts inside the 10-yard line.

Sassaman, who is averaging 37.4 yards per punt this season, is a perfect 4-for-4 passing for 173 yards and two touchdowns in his career.

The back line of seniors Kate Moyer (pictured) and Allie Covell and junior Nikki Rhoads helpd hold the Red Dragons to one second-half shot.

“It was a change up of our whole schedule,” said junior Jillian Duffy. “But we came out strong anyway and took control from the beginning.”

Change can be good: Last year, the Mules went into their Sunday game at Oneonta State with a 4-0 record, only to take a 3-0 loss onto the bus for the long trip home.

“We came out more intense this year,” remarked Duffy. “We wanted to shut them out like they shut us out.”

Duffy contributed to both goals. Muhlenberg won a penalty corner just 25 seconds into the game and was awarded its seventh midway through the first half. In the ensuing scramble, Duffy flicked a ball that would have gone in had it not hit the body of a Red Dragon defender. Freshman Nicole Notarianni converted the penalty stroke for her third goal in two games.

Early in the second half, the Mules doubled their lead with a well-executed break. Senior LisaAnn Polt dribbled down the right side and passed to Duffy in the center. Her shot found the corner of the goal for her third goal of the season.

Muhlenberg outshot Oneonta, 21-4, in improving its record to 3-1.

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