Freshman Chris Richards eclipsed the program record for points by a freshman and sent the Mules to the semifinals of the ECAC Tournament with one strike in the Muhlenberg men's soccer team's 1-0 win over New York University.
 
The Mules (11-6-2) will head to Owings Mill, Md. next weekend and take on Widener, a 2-1 winner over New Jersey City to win Pod 2, in the semifinals. Host - and tournament top seed - Stevenson will play Kean in the other semifinal match.
 
The frosh was just outside the box when senior Jordan Cimring found him from the right side. Richards took a few touches into the box and through the Violet defense before firing his team-leading 11th goal of the season in the 7th minute.
 
Richards' goal gave him 30 points on the year, topping Chris Bingman's 1986 record of 29 points for the most by a Muhlenberg freshman. Richards still trails Bingman by one in the goal department and is just two goals back of tying Rob Richard's 1970 freshman record. 

The Mules built up a 17-8 advantage in total shots and tested the NYU keeper six times. On the other end, senior goalkeeper Raymond Leto had an answer on each of the four shots the Violets (8-8-2) put on goal.

Muhlenberg, playing in its first postseason since winning the Centennial Conference Championship and an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament in 2014, is looking for its first ECAC title since winning the ECAC South crown in 1988.