Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/8/26
From Press Release
Stifling defense and an explosive third quarter on offense lifted the Muhlenberg men’s lacrosse team to an impressive 16-5 home win Wednesday night over Haverford College.
The Mules (7-6, 2-2) held the Fords (8-5, 2-3) – a team they needed two overtimes to beat last year – to 14 shots on goal in 60 minutes. And that number was in the single digits for the majority of the game: Haverford took five shots on goal in the last five minutes, when Muhlenberg had its reserves on the field.
Haverford scored only one even-strength goal in the first 56 minutes, and Muhlenberg repeatedly forced the Fords to use the entirety of possession clock, forcing five turnovers on time violations.
The Mules even got a goal from their defense – their first “pole goal” of the season. It came early in the fourth quarter, when sophomore Charlie Lowery put in the rebound of a saved shot for his first career goal, giving Muhlenberg a 15-2 lead.
Muhlenberg spread the wealth on offense early on, with eight different players – five with goals and three with assists – entering the scoring column in the first 18 minutes for a 5-0 lead. It was 6-1 at halftime.
Sophomore Luc Belvill scored the second of his four goals 27 seconds into the third quarter, igniting the Mules’ second eight-goal quarter of the season.
Muhlenberg closed the period on a flurry, netting five goals in the final five minutes to turn a comfortable 9-2 lead into an even more comfortable 14-2 advantage. Junior Chase Kusko (Parkland) assisted freshman Parker Kusko (Parkland) twice, and freshmen Connor Sutton and Jacob Apat scored 51 seconds apart, with Apat notching his first career goal.
Belvill capped the outburst with 1:31 left in the third, then finished out the Mules’ scoring with a behind-the-back goal with 10:28 remaining in the fourth.
Parker Kusko finished with three goals for his sixth hat trick of the season, and junior Flynn Decker added a pair of goals.
Reigning Centennial Conference defensive player of the week Jace Riley Day played into the fourth quarter and allowed only two goals while making six saves.
Junior Brendan Boyd and freshman Drew Pravlik caused a pair of turnovers apiece on defense.
