As much as fans love offense, coaches will tell you in virtually every sport that defense wins championships.
The Lawrence University hockey team is putting together that type of championship defense as it enters the final month of the season.
Lawrence has been outstanding over its past seven games against some quality competition, including four games against nationally ranked opponents.
“Since day one we’ve believed that senior leadership, team defense and chemistry are the keys to a successful season,” Lawrence coach Mike Szkodzinski said. “Right now, there‘s no doubt that our senior leadership has been outstanding and our defense has been steady.”
Over the past month, Lawrence has been outstanding in its own zone. The Vikings are allowing only 2.14 goals per game in the last seven contests and that includes shutouts over Augsburg and Northland.
“As a whole, we’re playing pretty well defensively in all three zones,” said senior defenseman Jameson Raymond. “Starting with our goalie to our (defensemen) to our forwards, we’re all playing pretty well.”
With four games against nationally-ranked Adrian and MSOE in that recent stretch, the Vikings endured three one-goal losses in those four.
“Even when we came out on the short end of the stick in the series vs. MSOE and Adrian, we strongly felt we’ve been playing some of the best hockey we’ve played in a long time,” Szkodzinski said.
“It’s a matter of scoring a big goal at the right time or making a save when we need it. The margin in our league has become so slim. That one play could be the difference in an entire series.”
Raymond is the type of player who gives the Vikings all those intangibles that make a difference in a tight game and is the leader of this group of young defensemen.
“Jameson takes away time and space from the opponents better than anyone in the league,” Szkodzinski said. “He’s able to see things three steps ahead of the other guys.”
The corps of defensemen includes only one other senior, Jesse Byam-Katzman, and All-Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association selection William Thoren, only a sophomore. New to the mix are freshmen Erik Soderlund, Kevin Killian, Cory Bastian and Kyle Forte, and all have all played key roles.
“The entire team fully embraced the fact that we were bringing in 17 new faces this season,” Szkodzinski said. “That allowed for our young men who are getting regular shifts to feel comfortable and confident.
“That closeness has shown itself over the past seven, eight games for us. The fact that our young men have not wavered from the system and completely embraced the way we have to play.”
Raymond said the upperclassmen knew they would need to play a role in incorporating the rookies in the mix.
“With only having two seniors, we took it upon ourselves to get the younger guys involved in the system, and how coach (Szkodzinski) wants us to play defense,” Raymond said. “They’ve taken to it well.”
The other big factor has been the play of freshman goaltender Peter Emery, who this week was named the MCHA Freshman of the Week for the second time this season.
“Peter has been very, very steady,” Szkodzinski said. “He has a lot of talent and is a big body who covers a lot of net. If he continues to keep his game simple, we will see good results.”
Emery has a 3-4-0 record in his last seven games, but he has a sparkling 2.15 goals against average and .932 save percentage in that stretch. On the season, he is 7-7-2 with a 2.46 GAA and .921 save percentage.
“There’s no doubt he’s a calming influence when he’s in the net. He has a demeanor that’s consistent and not a whole lot seems to rattle him. That’s a trait for a good goaltender,” said Szkodzinski, who heaped praise on goaltending coach Brian Garavaglia for Emery’s development.
Raymond said Emery has made the routine saves, and then he’s made a few that are simply spectacular.
“He (Emery) makes all the saves he should, and then he makes saves that he shouldn’t make,” Raymond said. “Those are the ones that matter.”
Record breaker
Junior Sam Stevens broke the Lawrence record in the 3,000 meters at the UW-Oshkosh Open last Friday. The Suamico, Wis., native won the event in 8:50.83, which broke the record of 8:53.58. The record was set way back in 1996 by Lawrence Hall of Famer Scott Sprtel.
Private champs
In the last tuneup before Lawrence hosts the Midwest Conference Championships on Feb. 17-19, the Vikings had three individual winners at the Wisconsin Private College Championships last Saturday at Carthage.
Peter Brengel and Cameron Gmehlin took titles in the 200-yard backstroke and 200 breaststroke, respectively. Brengel and Gmehlin teamed with Charlie Mann and Pat Vincent to win the 200 medley relay as well.
On the women’s side, freshman Taylor Winter won the 1,650 freestyle and took second in the 500 freestyle.
The Vikings were third in the team standings for both the men and women.
Editor’s Note: Inside LU Athletics is a notes package written by Lawrence University Sports Information Director Joe Vanden Acker. It will feature teams and individual players, recap weekly awards or highlights and take a look at what’s ahead for the Vikings.