Vikings roll to rout of Finlandia

HANCOCK, Mich. — Lawrence University broke on top early Saturday and never looked back en route to a 7-2 Northern Collegiate Hockey Association victory over Finlandia University at Houghton County Arena.

Ryan Rumble and Sean Reynolds scored two goals apiece, and Renato Engler had a goal and three assists for the Vikings (2-4-0, 2-2-0 NCHA). Sophomore Lane King, who transferred to Lawrence from Finlandia earlier this year, picked up three assists against his former mates.

Mattias Soderqvist made 25 saves to earn the victory for Lawrence.

The Vikings broke on top less than five minutes into the game. After Lawrence’s Ryan Eardley was sent off for interference at the 3:49 mark, Renato Engler scored a short-hander at 4:44 and Lawrence led 1-0.

The score stayed that way until early in the second when Rumble scored an even-strength goal 2:27 into the period. Reynolds scored on the power play at 13:36, and Eardley added a goal at 15:53 off a feed from Engler to make it 4-0.

Freshman Josh Koepplinger scored just 2:32 into the third to put the Vikings up 5-0, and Reynolds stretched the lead to 6-0 when he scored Lawrence’s second short-hander of the night off a pass from Engler.

The Lions broke up the shutout with a pair of power-play goals late in the third, and Rumble scored again with 1:10 remaining to complete the scoring for Lawrence.

The seven goals is the most in a game for Lawrence since the Vikings defeated Northland College 8-6 back on Nov. 10, 2012.

Box score