JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — The Lawrence University men’s soccer team took control of the game early and went on to a 3-1 Midwest Conference victory at Illinois College on Sunday.
The win clinched a berth in the four-team MWC Tournament for the second consecutive season. Lawrence (7-9-1, 6-2-1 MWC) is the second seed and will play Beloit College on Friday in the semifinals at Carroll University.
The Vikings jumped on Illinois College early when Joe Cullen took a pass from Karl Mayer and scored at the 12:18 mark. Vince Butitta gave Lawrence a 2-0 lead at 27:09 when he scored off a pass from Stephen Exarhos.
The Blueboys trimmed the lead to 2-1 at 43:34, but Lawrence scored just 42 seconds later to take a 3-1 lead into the half. Freshman Oliver Newsom took a pass from his brother, Simon, and scored to restore Lawrence’s two-goal edge.
Freshman goalkeeper Taiju Oki had to make only one save to pick up the win. Lawrence outshot the Blueboys 11-5.