The Muhlenberg Weekly

Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: The Muhlenberg Website Freshman midfielder Shelby Smith

Despite a considerable amount of fortitude at the end of the season, the Muhlenberg Field Hockey Team fell short of the playoffs. The Mules were in the cellar of the Centennial Conference early (3-7, 0-3). However, they fought hard to end the season 8-10. While other teams might have given up, the Mules did not, winning a slugfest at Swarthmore. In the next game, the Mules won a thriller against rival-Johns Hopkins. The overtime victory appeared to be the catalyst the Mules needed to spark their playoff run. The Mules were poised to make the playoffs after winning two more games to bring their record to 8-8, 4-4. However, they were set to play undefeated-in-Conference Ursinus (13-2, 8-0) and Gettysburg (12-5, 7-1). The Mules lost both games. The end of the season is particularly devastating because of the promise and perseverance the team showed all year.

The seniors will be missed. Senior goalie Michelle Consiglio shined all year with four shutouts and a save percentage of 74.7 - fourth in the Centennial Conference. Seniors Julie deLaurentis (member of the Centennial Conference Honor Roll) and Cara Rothacker contributed to the Mules' season with four points each and leadership in the back and midfield. Finally, senior defender Kristin Garbutt's (member of the Centennial Conference Honor Roll and the recipient of the Defensive Player of the Week) play ascended statistics. She still finished the season tied for fourth in the Conference with an average of .3 defensive saves per game.

The future is bright for the Lady Mules. Junior midfielder Tara Cohn earned a spot on the Centennial Conference Honor Roll and finished the season with a colossal 28 points, including two game-winning goals. Junior forwards Nicki Notarianni and Kristen Sabia finished with 15 points and 12 points respectively, both with a game-winning goal.

Sophomore midfielder/defender Jess Kasza had 10 points with 2 game-winning goals. The surprise of the season was freshman forward Jillian Katz. In just 12 games, she scored four goals, had two assists, and one game-winning goal.

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