In Saturday’s Muhlenberg Invitational, the ’Berg men’s track and field team

Although her women’s team lost to Moravian, 113-84, sophomore Danielle Seiler had an excellent day, winning the 400 meters and the 400-meter hurdles. She set a school record and a meet record in the 400.

outscored Moravian in a dual meet, 96-77, to clinch the Matte Award.

Named for the late Aaron Matte (Muhlenberg ’70), a strong supporter of local college athletics, the annual competition between Muhlenberg and Moravian goes to the school with the better record in head-to-head regular-season competition in all sports.

Before the track meet, Muhlenberg held an 8½-5½ lead in the 2003-04 standings: Mule teams won in field hockey, men’s soccer, football, men’s cross country, women’s lacrosse, baseball, men’s tennis and men’s lacrosse; Moravian won in volleyball, women’s tennis, women’s cross country, men’s basketball and women’s basketball; and the teams tied in women’s soccer.

Only two Matte contests remain on the schedule: men’s golf on April 20 and softball on April 25.

“We knew one of us [the men’s team or the women’s team] had to win for us to clinch,” said senior Ben Phillips. “We knew it hadn’t been won by Muhlenberg in a long time and it was an important thing to bring back, especially for the seniors. We hope we started a new tradition and Muhlenberg keeps winning it year after year.”

Phillips contributed eight points to the Mules’ total, finishing second among the two teams (and fifth overall) in the 800 meters, then running the anchor leg in a 4x400 race in which Moravian did not compete. He also played a role in another Matte Award point in the fall as a member of the football team that blanked the Greyhounds, 24-0.

For Phillips and other members of the track team, who usually compete in non-scored meets, it was a rare chance to contribute to a team victory.

“It makes it more exciting,” he said. “It makes it more of a team effort and gets everyone involved and motivated. It doesn’t matter if you finish 10th if someone from Moravian finishes 11th. Obviously you want to run your best or throw or jump your best, but as long as you beat someone on Moravian you feel like you’ve accomplished something.”