On April 24, 2021, the Muhlenberg men’s lacrosse team took to Scotty Wood Stadium to play against the Washington College Shoremen. For the Mules, this final home game brought another chance to beat Washington College, a team who they have only beaten once since 2010, and this game also meant honoring their 15 seniors on Senior Day.
With a score of 14-3, the Muhlenberg Mules defeated the Shoremen, winning by 11 goals and breaking a school record for largest margin of victory in a Centennial Conference game.
Ethan Grossman ‘21 came away with his 18th career hat trick, tying the Muhlenberg all-time record. The Mules left the weekend on a hot streak, winning three in a row.
Grossman credits his team on their double digit win. “We stuck to our game plan and worked hard throughout the week to prepare for Washington. We shot the ball really well as an offense and our defense was lights out,” he said.
The defensive line only allowed the three goals against the Shoremen, marking Washington’s lowest scoring Centennial Conference game in five years.
Looking ahead to their next matchup, Grossman and the Mules have a quick turnaround, playing their next game Wednesday, Apr. 28, against the Ursinus College Bears. “We are approaching the game Wednesday with confidence. We feel we are one of the best teams in the conference and feel we can beat anyone. During normal seasons we usually have these quick turnarounds and we will be prepared,” said Grossman.
After starting their season 0-3, the Mules have scored double digit wins in their last three games. “Some of the biggest takeaways from this season is our ability to overcome those early losses we had,” said Grossman.
In addition to Grossman, midfielder Jack Reilly ‘21 scored his first goal of the season with seconds left of the game, solidifying their double digit lead.
“We haven’t beaten Washington College in a long, long time. That being said, Coach Stone did an excellent job preparing our defense for everything we could possibly see, and our guys did the rest. Our offense was stellar as well. Coach Plunket prepared us all week for the type of defense we were going to face,” said Reilly.
Quickly after playing Washington College, Reilly looks to both his coaches and teammates to evaluate their latest performance ahead of their next game. “Ursinus will be a great matchup you won’t want to miss. It’s a quick turnaround for sure, but our coaches and captains will prepare us mentally and physically for the game, as always,” said Reilly
As the season draws to a close, Reilly reflects on all the team has accomplished.
“There’s no doubt that our team chemistry has grown since the beginning of the season, [and] our overall motivation has increased every single week. With the entry to the NCAA Tournament being extra competitive this year, our team has really dialled in to the small things that generate our team success,” stated Reilly.
As his collegiate career comes to an end too, Reilly reflects on his role as a member of the team. “Being a senior on the team, I’ve realized how important it is to pave the road for our younger teammates. Leaving everything out on the field is the least you can do. Our real job is to make sure the underclassmen are prepared and highly motivated for the promising seasons to come.”
The Mules would go on to have their three-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday, Apr. 28 against Ursinus College, losing in double overtime 13-12 and bringing their record to 3-4 on the season.
