By way of a throw, a header, and a kick, the Muhlenberg Mules emerged with a Centennial Conference playoff spot and a sound 3-1 win over the visiting Johns Hopkins Blue Jays for the first time in over a decade.
Lorenzo Vargas-Clarke put the hosts ahead early with one of his patented colossal throw-ins just over 90 seconds into the contest. The graduate student wound up next to the softball dugouts and fired a heave on a line towards the middle of the net, where it deflected off of the goalie's hand and in for a 1-0 advantage. It's the first goal of Vargas-Clarke's Muhlenberg career, but one of many times this season that his throw-in ability has led to a scoring chance for the Mules.
As for the header, that came from
Sam Roberts about 35 minutes later.
Paul Hartman lofted a corner kick perfectly towards the front of the net, where the six-foot-two Roberts headed it toward the net before being deflected in by freshman
Ethan Buttner (pictured). The goal was the first in Buttner's collegiate career and the assists were Roberts' and Hartman's first points of the 2026 campaign.
After the Blue Jays cut the deficit in half 10 minutes into the latter period off of a penalty kick, another first-year player stepped up for the Mules. This time, it was
Jake Marks, who hustled throughout the match and managed to force an error by the visitors. Marks intercepted a short goal kick by Johns Hopkins and turned, kicking it back to junior
Saleem Diakite, who put it into the net for his seventh goal of the season.
Nico Famularo was outstanding in net when called upon, making a pair of sliding and diving saves with his feet as part of a three-save afternoon.
It is the first time since 2014 that the Mules have emerged victorious against the Blue Jays, and they were led in part by a few players who were in third grade the last time that happened. For the last time the Mules defeated the Blue Jays in Allentown, one has to go back to 2012.
The victory ensures Muhlenberg's spot in the Centennial Conference Playoff Tournament. The Mules (6-6-3, 4-2-2) can finish nearly anywhere in the final standings based on the results of next week. Their final match of the season is against Dickinson; the Red Devils currently hold the number two spot with a record of 5-1-2 in conference action.
