Behind a record performance by junior Chase Kusko and a strong second half, the Muhlenberg men's lacrosse team made its first trip to Texas a successful one, defeating Southwestern 18-8.

Kusko set a school record with 11 points on three goals and eight assists, breaking the previous mark of nine points in a game, set in 2020 and tied in 2022. The eight assists tied the school record set by Kusko last year against McDaniel.

Kusko assisted all three of the goals scored by sophomore Luc Belvill, who recorded his third hat trick of the season. He also assisted on two of the game-high four goals scored by his younger brother, freshman Parker Kusko. Parker returned the favor by assisting on two of Chase's three goals. 

As a team, the Mules (3-4) set a school record with 17 assists, topping the 15 they accomplished four times previously.

It was a historic performance for Chase Kusko, who now has 142 career points, good for third place on the Mules' all-time list. But he was far from the Mules' lone star 😉.

Junior Luke Tabasso (pictured above) was outstanding in his first career start in goal, playing into the fourth quarter and making nine saves while allowing only six goals.

After jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead, Muhlenberg had trouble shaking the pesky Pirates (4-3). It was 7-4 late in the first half before junior Liam Ledwith checked the ball out of the stick of a Southwestern player at midfield on an attempted clear. He picked up the ball and passed to Chase Kusko, who fed Parker Kusko for a one-on-one with the goalie. Kusko converted with 11 seconds left in the half.

The Mules took the momentum into the second half, scoring the first five goals of the third quarter - two by Belvill and one each by junior Daniel Friedel, freshman Connor Sutton, and junior Ryan Neal, four of them assisted by Chase Kusko - to turn the game into a runaway. 

Sutton finished with three points on two goals and an assist, as did senior Justin Wyle, who came into the game with two points in his career. 

Senior Thomas Olifiers caused two turnovers, picked up four ground balls, and assisted on a first-quarter goal in transition for his third career point. Freshman Drew Pravlik scooped up a career-high six ground balls.