After failing to crack the top 25 in the Division III poll despite an 8-0 start that includes a road win against a team that remains in the top 25, the Muhlenberg women's lacrosse team is sure to get the attention of the voters after scoring an 11-5 win against 14th-ranked The College of New Jersey.

TCNJ is one of the premiere programs in the history of Division III, with 10 national championships and 39 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including 36 in a row that ended at least in the "Elite 8." Other than an 8-7 win against top-ranked Gettysburg in 2017, it's hard to imagine a bigger win in the history of the Mule program. 

It wasn't just the win ... it was the decisive fashion in which the Mules (9-0) pulled it off in the battle of two teams that came in undefeated. The Lions (6-1) netted the first two goals of the game and added another goal in the final minute of the first quarter to take a 3-1 lead after the first 15 minutes.

That would be all for TCNJ for a long time. The Muhlenberg defense shut down the Lions for the next 31 minutes, taking control of the game with an 8-0 run. TCNJ scored the first and last goals of the fourth quarter but never threatened the Mule lead.

As she was in the 13-11 win at nationally ranked Rowan, junior Meaghan Haughney was spectacular in goal, making nine saves, including four on free-position shots. The five goals scored by the Lions tied for their fewest since a 6-4 loss to Middlebury in 2017.

Also key to the Muhlenberg defensive effort was its dominance on draws. The Mules entered the game sixth in Division III in draw control percentage and only added to their stature, winning 15 of 18 draws. Junior Emma Youngling controlled eight of the draws, while senior Abba Diglio, who takes them, controlled three to go along with three ground balls and a caused turnover.

After closing to within 9-4 on a goal early in the fourth quarter, the Lions did not have another possession in the Muhlenberg end of the field for nearly eight minutes.

Youngling led the offense with five goals, including four in the second half when the Mules put the game out of reach.

Youngling's goal off a pass from junior Alyssa Hartnett got Muhlenberg to within 3-2 early in the second quarter, and after Youngling controlled the ensuing draw, senior Ava Milia scored just 26 seconds later to tie the game.

A free-position goal by freshman Jane Sorger midway through the quarter gave the Mules the lead for good, and senior Annalisa Bio added a free-position goal before the half to make it 5-3 at the break.

Hartnett assisted on and scored goals 31 seconds apart early in the second half to give Muhlenberg all the goals they would need.

Things don't get any easier for the Mules (9-0), who travel to face another nationally ranked team in Gettysburg on Saturday. But they'll go there having won nine in a row, the school record for an in-season winning streak.