Box Score
(Allentown, Pa.) – The Dickinson men's soccer team suffered a heartbreaker at #19-ranked Muhlenberg, falling 2-1 on Wednesday night. The Red Devils struck first on a free-kick but the Mules answered with a penalty kick and a free-kick of their own to claim a key Centennial Conference win.
The outcome leads to a rematch in Lancaster next weekend as both teams are locked into a semifinal match-up after a Franklin & Marshall win over Gettysburg. Saturday's regular season finales will determine the final seeds and jersey color for the conference semis.
Dickinson held a slight advantage in the early minutes, creating a pair of shots and drawing a corner to start the game.
Muhlenberg had a strong chance in the 35th minute as Lance Dotzman ricocheted a shot off a Red Devil defender from the top off the box. The Mules created another dangerous shot on the ensuing corner, but Dotzman's shot went wide.
The Devils countered and put a pair of shots on goal as Will Bracken (Easton, Conn./Joel Barlow) and George Naranjo (MIramar, Fla./American Heritage-Delmar) forced a pair of saves from goaltender David Pinto.
The Devils made a quick counter attack with just over a minute to play in the first half. Bracken got behind the defense and fired a shot off of Pinto, forcing a Dickinson corner. The Mules were able to clear and the teams went into halftime tied 0-0.
Sophomore Danny Sheppard (Rydal, Pa./Abington) tested Pinto again, right out of halftime. He was there for the stop and then Muhlenberg answered with back-to-back corners on the other end. Bryan Attanasio collected a long rebound but his shot was well high of the goal.
Dickinson put together a great chance on a set piece in the 55th minute. Senior Nate Latshaw (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata) redirected a header, but Pinto made the save to keep the match scoreless.
Senior goalkeeper Reed Milbrath (Dickerson, Md./Sandy Springs Friends) made a strong play at the corner of the area on the other end, and the game continued to go back-and-forth.
Jonathan Harper (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) broke free inside the 18 and took a shot on goal in the 59th minute. He got the ball past Pinto but the Muhlenberg defense was able to clear the ball off the line. The Devils continued to keep the pressure on as Sheppard and defender Connor Gavey (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Warde) tallied shots and forced two more corners.
Muhlenberg wasn't able to generate shots, but had some equally dangerous possessions in the opening 20 minutes of the second half.
A Muhlenberg foul gave Dickinson a free kick, just outside the area in the 67th minute. Isaac Pitkow (Jenkintown, Pa./Abington) fired a shot to the right side, making Pinto lay-out to knock the shot away.
Dickinson did finally break through, finding the back of the net in the 69th minute. Senior defender Ned Wagner (Washington, D.C./Upper Canada College) scored off an assist from fellow defender Austin Thames (Frederick, Md./Urbana) to give the Red Devils a 1-0 lead. Wagner headed in free-kick to put the Devils on the board.
Just minutes later Muhlenberg drew a penalty kick and Dotzman placed the ball in the right side of the net to pull the Mules even with 19:09 remaining in regulation.
The intensity continued to build as the match went on. The Devils had a great chance with a free-kick on the sideline at the top of the 18. They didn't get much of the restart but Latshaw ended up with a good look in front of the net.
A Dickinson fast break led to a corner. The serve went just wide, hitting the top of the cross bar. The Mules moved the ball up the field and drew a free-kick just outside the area. Dotzman would capitalize, scoring his second goal of the night, off an assist from Jack Dusing. That put Muhlenberg in front, 2-1, with 5:54 left to play.
Thames served a dangerous ball onto the six in the 87th minute, but a header went wide of the post. The Devils forced a corner and a nice cross to the back post almost led to the equalizer, but the ball went wide once again.
Dickinson kept coming, right down to the final horn, but the Mules held on for the win. Milbrath came up with a big save on a Muhlenberg counter attack to keep the Devils hopes alive, late in the match.
Muhlenberg improves to 11-2-1 overall and 6-1-1 in the Centennial Conference. They move into second place in the conference standings. The Red Devils slip to 6-2 in the CC and 11-4-1 overall.
The Red Devils host #5-ranked Franklin & Marshall at 4:30 pm on Saturday in the regular season finale. The Diplomats have secured the top seed in the conference tournament next weekend. Four teams are battling for the final two playoff spots.
