For the second straight game, a strong third quarter was the difference as the Muhlenberg women's lacrosse team won at Dickinson, 14-7.

The win was the 13th of the season for the Mules (13-3, 5-2), tying the school record set in 2016 and matched the following year, and it clinched them a home playoff game for the second consecutive season.

With one game to play in the regular season, Muhlenberg is tied with nationally ranked Haverford for third place in the Centennial Conference. If Haverford loses to Swarthmore on Saturday, the Mules can earn the third seed in the upcoming playoffs with a win at nationally ranked Franklin & Marshall. Otherwise, they will be the fourth seed and host either Swarthmore, Ursinus or Washington College in a first-round game on Wednesday, April 30.

Muhlenberg trailed Dickinson, 4-3, late in the first half, but a goal by sophomore Alyssa Hartnett tied it, and one by senior Jillian Kubikowski with just 31 seconds on the clock, off a nice feed from freshman Kim Curcio, sent the teams into the break with the Mules clinging to a one-goal advantage. 

Muhlenberg padded the lead by outscoring the Red Devils 6-2 in the third quarter. Goals by senior Emily Vaughan - her 100th career point - and Hartnett 24 seconds apart made it 7-4, and Kubikowski scored twice in a span of 30 seconds to further widen the margin.

Sophomore Emma Youngling later scored consecutive goals, one late in the third quarter and the other early in the fourth, to run the lead to 12-6.

The Mule defense threw a blanket over Dickinson in the second half, allowing only three goals, none from the run of play until 1:16 remained in the fourth quarter. Senior Ellison Ervin made 7 saves, and Curcio, Youngling, and senior Melissa Pierpont each caused a pair of turnovers.

Kubikowski and Hartnett led the offense with 3 goals apiece. Kubikowski added a pair of assists and now has 82 points on the season, tying for the fifth-most in program history. 

In addition to her 2 goals and 2 caused turnovers, Youngling recorded a career-high 8 draw controls and 4 ground balls.

pictured above: Sophomore Annalisa Bio scored with 6:22 left in the first quarter to give the Mules their first lead, 2-1.