The Muhlenberg Mules allowed just one shot on goal all evening in a 1-0 win over the Franklin & Marshall Diplomats in the first Centennial Conference match of the season for both sides.
The game's lone tally was the product of consistent team pressure in the opposing end by the Mules and great determination on the part of junior
Saleem Diakite. After chasing down a wayward crossing pass and keeping the play alive, the forward began putting on the moves, putting multiple Diplomat defenders in a blender on his way to the net. Diakite was then tripped up by an opposing player while in the keeper's box, resulting in a foul and a penalty kick. The forward took the try and fired it just inside the left post and past the keeper for a 1-0 advantage 59 minutes into the game.
While certainly not an insurmountable advantage, that score put the Mules in a great spot heading into the final 30 minutes of action considering the stifling defensive effort the hosts put together throughout the contest. Led by
Logan Mesics,
Ethan Buttner,
Luke Blenis, and
Lorenzo Vargas-Clarke, Muhlenberg had a defender in position every time F&M made a run or tried to take a shot. One beneficiary of that defense was Muhlenberg goalkeeper
Nico Famularo, who earned his first career win and shutout.
It's the first time since September 28, 2013, that the Mules have defeated the Diplomats at home. While Muhlenberg entered tonight having won four of its last six matchups against F&M, all of those wins came in Lancaster. That 2013 win was also a 1-0 final.
