The Muhlenberg men's soccer team again proved to be a tough assignment for one of the best teams in Division III, taking Rowan to overtime before falling, 3-2.

The Profs (11-2) entered the game ranked 10th by United Soccer Coaches and 15th by D3soccer.com. It was the third straight game forcing overtime against a nationally ranked team for the Mules, who have another test on Saturday in 23rd-ranked Gettysburg.

Muhlenberg's last seven opponents have a combined record of 55-15-5, and of those seven games, one ended in a tie and five were decided by one goal.

For the ninth consecutive game, the Mules (2-6-2) shut their opponent out in the first half, and this time it came against a Rowan team that came in leading all NCAA men's soccer teams (all three divisions) with 48 goals this season.

One of the players key to that stingy defense, freshman Cameron Miller, gave Muhlenberg the lead in the 36th minute when he headed in a cross for his second goal of the season. Another starting back, junior Brian Heckman, assisted on the goal, as did freshman Mark Winter, who recorded his first career point.

Rowan tied the score 11 minutes into the second half, but the Mules took the lead back when sophomore Matthew Athanas-Linden headed in a long throw from Miller with 25:56 to play.

The two goals came against a Rowan goalie who had allowed two goals in more than 480 minutes all season coming in.

The Profs pushed hard for a tying goal in the last 15 minutes but were repeatedly turned away by the defense and junior Jordan Schreer, who made back-to-back saves by tipping the ball over the crossbar.

Finally, Rowan scored on a long blast with just 1:01 left in regulation. The winning goal came off a counterattack with 29 seconds left in the first overtime.

The last time Muhlenberg played three straight overtime games was 1981.

pictured above: Freshman Victor Jacobs takes one of Muhlenberg's 13 shots in his first career start.