Sept. 20, 2003

Box Score

Sophomore Jose Ramirez scored two goals to lead the Muhlenberg men's soccer team to a 3-1 win over Johns Hopkins in the Centennial Conference opener for both teams Saturday night.

The Blue Jays, who fell to 5-1-1, entered the match ranked eighth in Division III and with a record 29-game CC regular-season winning streak. The Mules, who improved to 6-1, were ranked seventh in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Scott Clausen helped set up all three goals. Just 12 minutes into the game, he battled a Hopkins defender for a ball at the corner of the 6-yard box. The ball caromed out to Ramirez, who fired a low shot to the back corner of the net.

The Blue Jays had a golden opportunity to tie the score seven minutes later, but Mules defender Ryan Smallwood knocked a shot by senior midfielder Mike Poston (Nashua, NH/Nashua) off the line to preserve the Muhlenberg lead.

Clausen teamed up with James Henshaw for a brilliant goal in the 29th minute, sending a perfect through ball to his speeding teammate for a one-on-one with Hopkins junior goalkeeper Gary Kane, Jr. (Lansdale, PA/LaSalle College). Henshaw took a couple of touches and beat Kane, Jr. to the far post for his fourth goal of the season.

Midway through the second half, Clausen beat a Hopkins defender on the end line and sent a cross back through the goal mouth to Ramirez, whose shot found its way inside the far post.

Despite playing a man down for the final 22 minutes after a red card was issued, the Mules maintained their three-goal margin until 39 seconds remained, when senior forward Chad Tarabolous (Tulsa, OK/Cascia Hall) stole a ball at midfield and scored on a breakaway. It was his 45th career goal, moving him into fourth place on the Hopkins career goals list.

Kane, Jr. made two saves in the Blue Jay goal, while Chris Davis stopped five shots for Mulenberg.

Hopkins hosts McDaniel Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Johns Hopkins (5-1-1, 0-1)      0     1 --    1Muhlenberg (6-1, 1-0)           2     1 --    3
M-Jose Ramirez (unassisted), 12:15M-James Henshaw (Scott Clausen), 29:34M-Ramirez (Clausen), 63:39JH-Chad Tarabolous (unassisted), 89:21
Shots: Johns Hopkins 16, Muhlenberg 7. Saves: Johns Hopkins - Gary KaneJr. 2; Muhlenberg - Chris Davis 5. Corner Kicks: Johns Hopkins 6,Muhlenberg 4.

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