With "The Animal" unleashed, the Mules make it four straight

After relying on senior captain Billy Dalton's two goals in Wed.'s 2-0 victory over the Elizabethtown Blue Jays (3-4-1), the Men's Soccer Mules (6-2, 2-0) focused their attention to Centennial Conference rival, the Gettysburg Bullets (4-3-2, 1-1). In Sat.'s match-up against the Bullets, the Mules controlled almost all aspects of the game. 'Berg's defense held the men from Gettysburg to no corner kicks, an astonishing feat, while the offense recorded an amazing nine of their own. As a result of these opportunities, the Mules got off thirteen shots, five of them on goal and three of them made it to the back of the net.

The driving force behind this offensive barrage was senior midfielder Steve Tenenzapf. Known to his teammates and fans as "The Animal," Tenenzapf displayed his incredible work ethic and was rewarded with his first two goals of the season.

"He has been working really hard and it's great to see it pay off and for him to get some goals," says head coach Sean Topping of his unbridled "Animal." "He put their defense under pressure the entire game and that's great."

The first of his scores came at the fifteen minute mark of the game. After running full speed down the side of the field, "The Animal" took sophomore defensemen Matt Cecconi's crossing pass and one-timed it past diving Gettysburg goalie Adam Finkel.

"The Animal's" second goal came less than thirty seconds into the second half. Off another Cecconi cross, Tenenzapf gave the Mules a security goal as he put the ball just out of the reach of the Bullets' goalie once again.

"We work on getting our backs up the field and into the attack. Matt [Cecconi] is very dangerous coming out of the backfield," said Topping as he explained and complimented the leading points producer for his defense.

With this second goal, 'Berg was situated for the win, but by no means were they letting up from their aggressive style of play. Coming with four minutes left in the game, freshman forward Cody Antonini took "The Animal's" pass and lofted the ball perfectly over the head of a bedazzled Bullet's goalie. This goal, Antonini's third in four games, all but ended the game and cemented another victory for the Mules.

As a result of their outstanding play, Tenenzapf and Cecconi were given the C.C. Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week awards.

The Mules' next games are at Dickinson on Wed. and at Johns Hopkins on Sat.