Joseph Vanden Acker

Author: Joseph Vanden Acker

Big plays, ground game lead Vikings to rout of Grinnell

APPLETON, Wis. — A powerful ground game and big plays led the Lawrence University football team to a 53-7 Midwest Conference rout of Grinnell College on Saturday on Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.

Lawrence posted 442 rushing yards with a pair of 100-yard rushers, and the Vikings finished with 622 total yards. The win was No. 500 in Lawrence football history, which dates back to 1893.

Rookie running back Wasonu Allen had eight carries for 146 yards and two touchdowns for Lawrence (3-5, 2-4 MWC). Freshman quarterback Philip Santiago ran six times for 140 yards and a touchdown. Santiago also completed 7-of-12 passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns. Donnel Haley added 76 rushing yards on just nine carries for the Vikings.

Jacob Bernholtz had 22 carries for 96 yards to pace Grinnell (0-8, 0-6).

Linebackers Dan Rothbauer and Jake Gostisha spearheaded a Lawrence defense that limited Grinnell to 291 total yards. Rothbauer finished with 19 tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss. Gostisha had 15 tackles, including 1.0 TFLs, an interception and a pass breakup. Safety Dante Reese collected his second interception on the season and finished with four tackles.

Lawrence got on the board with 6:50 left in the first quarter when Santiago broke through up the middle and went 80 yards for the touchdown. The 80-yard run ties the second-longest run from scrimmage in Lawrence history and gave the Vikings a 6-0 lead.

After Gostisha’s interception stopped the next Grinnell drive, Santiago hit Chris Shaw with a 74-touchdown pass and Lawrence led 13-0 late in the first quarter.

The Vikings tacked on two more touchdowns in the second quarter as Trevor Spina sprinted in from five yards out and Santiago hit Cam Boerm with a 20-yard scoring pass for a 25-0 lead.

Lawrence led 25-7 at the half but quickly expanded that lead in the third quarter. Santiago found Cole Erickson on a 31-yard touchdown pass on Lawrence’s first drive of the quarter. Allen then burst up the middle on a 23-yard touchdown run, and the Vikings led 39-7 after three.

Reese’s interception set up the next Lawrence touchdown as the Vikings took over at their own 33-yard line. Freshman Jack Marinich capped a nine-play, 67-yard drive with his first career touchdown on an eight-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter for a 46-7 edge.

Allen capped the scoring with a spectacular 54-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter for the final margin.

Box score

First-period flurry launches Blugolds past Lawrence

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The ninth-ranked UW-Eau Claire hockey team scored four goals in the final 6:27 of the first period Friday to take command and went on to an 8-1 nonconference win over Lawrence University in the season opener for both teams.

Mac Jansen had two goals and two assists for the Blugolds, who had just a 28-23 edge in shots.

After the Vikings failed to cash in on a two-man advantage midway through the first period, the Blugolds struck first on the power play. Jansen scored on the man-advantage at the 13:33 mark for a 1-0 edge. Eau Claire went 3-for-5 on the power play, and the Vikings were 0-for-8.

Garrett Clemment made it 2-0 with a goal at the 15:02 mark, and Todd Koritzinsky scored just 1:06 later for a 3-0 edge. Colton Wolter capped the outburst with a goal at the 18:18 mark.

The Blugolds added two goals in the first 11 minutes of the second period before Lawrence got on the board. The Vikings’ Nick Felan scored off an assist from Lane King at the 13:17 mark.

Jay Deo made 22 saves to pick up the win for Eau Claire. Mattias Soderqvist made 13 saves for the Vikings before exiting midway through the second period. Greg Procopio made seven saves in relief.

Lawrence is back in action on Saturday when the Vikings travel to No. 1 UW-Stevens Point.

Box score

Tadych records hat trick as Ripon tops Vikings

APPLETON, Wis. — Kaylee Tadych recorded a hat trick Wednesday to lift the Ripon College women’s soccer team to a 6-1 Midwest Conference victory over Lawrence University on Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.

Paige Birschbach had two goals and two assists for the Red Hawks (14-2-1, 5-2-1 MWC).

Birschbach got the scoring started in the sixth minute, but Lawrence (1-14-0, 0-8-0) tied the match at the 17:44 mark.

Ryan Berkley’s shot was redirected by Ripon goalkeeper Diana Meredith, but Casey Merkle was there to stuff in the rebound to tie the match at 1-1.

Ripon then took control as Tadych scored the next two goals, and Birschbach added another to give Ripon a 4-1 lead at the half.

Tadych completed the hat trick with a goal in the 56th minute, and Morgan Johnson scored three minutes later to complete the scoring.

Meredith made three saves to get the win, and Jacie Verstegen played the final 30 minutes and made eight saves. Kori Looker stopped eight shots for the Vikings.

Box score

Late goals push Vikings past Ripon

APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University men’s soccer team scored two goals in the final 12 minutes Tuesday to carve out a 3-1 Midwest Conference victory over Ripon College on Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.

Mike Deremo and Taylor Reifert both had a goal and an assist for the Vikings (6-9-1, 2-5-1 MWC), who have beaten Ripon four straight times.

Lawrence broke a 1-1 tie on Jack Blodgett’s goal off a pass from Deremo at the 78:42 mark. Deremo made it 3-1 when he beat a pair of Ripon defenders and rifled a shot past Jimmy Amedeo at the 85:03 mark. Reifert and Harry Broderick picked up assists on Deremo’s goal.

Reifert got the scoring started just 1:14 into the match when he scored on a rebound. Ripon (4-12-0, 0-8-0) tied the match at 1-1 on Ben Vorpahl’s goal in the 42nd minute.

Joe Krivit made five saves to pick up the win for the Vikings. Amedeo stopped 13 shots for Ripon. The Vikings enjoyed a 24-10 edge in shots.

Box score

Witter grabs Swimmer of the Week honors after season opener

Paige Witter
Paige Witter

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University standout Paige Witter was named the Midwest Conference Swimmer of the Week following her performance in the team’s season opener.

Witter (Denver, Colo./Washington) was among the top finishers from the Midwest Conference at the massive All-Wisconsin Showcase last Saturday at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center in Brown Deer, Wis.

Competing against several NCAA Division I teams and teams from the powerful Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Witter grabbed 10th place in the 200-yard butterfly in 2:21.99. She also placed 19th in the 100 butterfly in 1:03.79. Witter then teamed with Danielle Millin, Emmi Zheng and Bridget Duero to grab eighth in the 200 medley relay in 1:57.72.

This is the second time Witter has been honored by the conference during her career. She captured Swimmer of the Week honors on Dec. 17, 2013.

Lawrence returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Ripon College at 1 p.m. at Boldt Natatorium.

Football preview: Lawrence vs. Grinnell

APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University football team returns to Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl for the final time this season as the Vikings take on Grinnell College on Saturday. Kickoff for the Midwest Conference contest is set for 1 p.m. Lawrence is coming off a tough setback at Lake Forest College that was decided in the final seconds, and Grinnell comes back from a bye following a 63-point loss to Monmouth College.

Preview

The Week Ahead: October 24-30

APPLETON, Wis. — A trio of fall teams wrap up the regular season this week, and the Lawrence University volleyball team will have to wait to determine its fate on earning a berth in the Midwest Conference Tournament.

LU Sports-VikingSoccer-PMS294MEN’S SOCCER (5-9-1, 1-5-1 MWC)

Opponent: Lawrence vs. Ripon (4-11-0, 0-7-0 MWC)

When and Where: Tuesday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m., Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.

Webcast: Lawrence vs. Ripon

Series: Lawrence has a 32-17-2 advantage in a series that started in the Vikings’ first season of soccer, 1974. The Vikings have won three straight and are 10-3-2 in their last 15 games against the Red Hawks.

Opponent: Lawrence at Beloit (6-8-1, 1-6-1 MWC)

When and Where: Saturday, Oct. 29, noon, Strong Stadium Complex, Beloit, Wis.

Webcast: Lawrence at Beloit

Series: Beloit has a 28-20-2 lead in the series that dates back to 1974. Lawrence has won four straight over the Bucs, and the Vikings have a 7-1-1 mark in their last nine games against Beloit.

Fast Fact: Lawrence sophomore Taylor Reifert has at least one point in five of his last six games. He took over the team scoring lead with a goal against Monmouth this past Saturday and now has seven this season.

LU Sports-VikingSoccer-PMS294WOMEN’S SOCCER (1-13-0, 0-7-0 MWC)

Opponent: Lawrence vs. Ripon (13-2-1, 4-2-1 MWC)

When and Where: Wednesday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m., Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.

Webcast: Lawrence vs. Ripon

Series: In a series that stretches back to 1982, Lawrence has a 29-16-1 lead in the rivalry. The Vikings have won two of the last three games and own a 14-3-1 mark against the Red Hawks since the 1998 season.

Opponent: Lawrence at Beloit (4-9-0, 2-6-0 MWC)

When and Where: Saturday, Oct. 29, 2:30 p.m., Strong Stadium Complex, Beloit, Wis.

Webcast: Lawrence at Beloit

Series: Beloit owns a 22-18-7 edge in a series that dates back to 1982. Beloit’s win last season snapped Lawrence’s five-game unbeaten streak (4-0-1) in the rivalry.

Fast Fact: Ryan Berkley scored her team-leading third goal of the season against North Park last Friday.

LU Sports-VikingHockey-PMS301HOCKEY (0-0-0)

Opponent: Lawrence at No. 11 UW-Eau Claire (0-0-0)

When and Where: Friday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m., Hobbs Ice Center, Eau Claire, Wis.

Webcast: Lawrence at UWEC

Series: UW-Eau Claire holds a 8-1-0 lead in a series that started in the 2000-01 season. Lawrence picked up a victory against the Blugolds during the 2009-10 season.

Opponent: Lawrence at No. 1 UW-Stevens Point (0-0-0)

When and Where: Saturday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m., Willett Arena, Stevens Point, Wis.

Webcast: Lawrence at UWSP

Series: UW-Stevens Point holds a 7-1-0 lead in a series that started in the 2002-03 season. The Vikings topped the Pointers 5-4 in the 2010-11 season.

Fast Fact: Lawrence opens its 31st hockey season with a pair of ranked opponents, including the top-ranked Pointers. UW-Stevens Point won its fifth NCAA Division III championship with a 5-1 victory over St. Norbert last season.

LU Sports-VikingCrossCountry-PMS294CROSS COUNTRY

Event: Midwest Conference Championships

When and Where: Saturday, Oct. 29, 11 a.m., The Beloit Club, Beloit, Wis.

Scoring: AccuRace Timing

Fast Fact: The Lawrence men are serious Midwest Conference title contenders but will have to fight it out with Grinnell and Lake Forest. The Pioneers have won the last four league titles and are the favorite again on Saturday. Lawrence standout Josh Janusiak owns the league’s fastest time this season, and is supported by freshman sensation Joe Kortenhof and returning all-conference performers Max Edwards and Ben Schaefer.

LU Sports-VikingVolleyball-PMS294VOLLEYBALL (10-14, 5-4 MWC)

Opponent: Lawrence vs. Edgewood (16-13)

When and Where: Saturday, Oct. 29, 1 p.m., Woltzen Gymnasium, Plymouth, Wis.

Webcast: None.

Series: Lawrence holds an 8-7 edge over the Eagles since 2000, but Edgewood has won seven in a row against the Vikings.

Opponent: Lawrence at Lakeland (14-13)

When and Where: Saturday, Oct. 29,  3 p.m., Woltzen Gymnasium, Plymouth, Wis.

Webcast: None.

Series: Lakeland has a 27-8 advantage in a series that dates back to 1980. The teams have split the last four meetings, with Lawrence winning in 2010 and 2011, and Lakeland posting victories in 2013 and 2015.

Fast Fact: All eyes for the Vikings will be on the Ripon-St. Norbert match on Wednesday night. Should the Green Knights knock off Ripon in the Midwest Conference finale for the Red Hawks, that would give Ripon four league losses. Lawrence also has four losses in conference play, but the Vikings hold the tiebreaker over Ripon and that might mean a Midwest Conference Tournament berth for Lawrence.

LU Sports-VikingFootball-PMS294FOOTBALL (2-5, 1-4 MWC)

Opponent: Lawrence vs. Grinnell (0-7, 0-5 MWC)

When and Where: Saturday, Oct. 29, 1 p.m., Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl

Webcast: Lawrence vs. Grinnell

Series: In a series that goes back to 1940, Grinnell holds a 31-27 lead based on the strength of the Pioneers’ current five-game win streak in the rivalry. Grinnell is only halfway to the longest win streak in the series. Lawrence won 10 straight from 1941-54.

Fast Fact: Lawrence plays its final home game of the season on Saturday with seven seniors trotting onto Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl for the final time. Receiver Trevor Spina and tackle Jackson Straughn represent seniors on the offense, linebacker Jake Lueck (currently out due to injury), safety Wes Hetcher, lineman Josh Mosley and cornerback Nick Ulloa represent the defense. Kicker Pat O’Mahoney is the Vikings’ senior placekicker.

LU Sports-VikingSwimDive-PMS294MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SWIMMING

Event: Lawrence vs. Ripon

When and Where: Saturday, Oct. 29, 1 p.m., Boldt Natatorium.

Webcast: None.

Fast Fact: Lawrence opened its season at the massive All-Wisconsin Showcase last weekend and faced top competition from the state’s NCAA Division I programs and schools from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  Paige Witter and Emei Thompson posted the best finishes for the Vikings as Witter was 10th in the 200-yard butterfly and Thompson was 10th in the 500 freestyle.

Relays pace Vikings at All-Wisconsin Showcase

BROWN DEER, Wis. — A pair of relay teams led the Lawrence University swim teams Saturday as they opened their season at the All-Wisconsin Showcase at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center.

The women’s 400-yard freestyle relay team of Lizzy Garcia-Creighton, Eryn Blagg, Emei Thompson and Bridget Duero finished seventh in 3:54.68. On the men’s side, the 200 medley relay team of Max Stahl, Tom Goldberg, Liam Wulfman and Christian Bell took eighth in 1:45.52.

The top finishers for the Lawrence women were Paige Witter and Thompson. Witter was 10th in the 200 butterfly in 2:21.99, and Thompson was 10th in the 500 freestyle in 5:38.84. Freshman Elise Riggle was right behind Thompson in 11th place in 5:38.91. Danielle Millin also grabbed 11th in the 400 individual medley in 5:09.29.

The top individual finisher for the men was Jordan Spalding, who took 17th in the 500 freestyle in 5:26.47. Stahl was 21st in the 100 backstroke in 59.10 seconds.

Results

Rams stop Lawrence in straight sets

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa — The Cornell College volleyball team won a pair of tight sets Saturday and went on to a 3-0 Midwest Conference victory over Lawrence University.

The Rams won 25-21, 25-15, 25-23.

Diamond Boyd led Cornell (17-6, 9-0 MWC), which won the league title, with 17 kills, and Libby Schnoor added 10. Katherine Devlin picked up 34 assists for the Rams.

Arianna Neumeyer paced Lawrence (10-14, 5-4) with nine kills, and Rachael Wuensch added six. Sydney Nelson picked up 21 assists, and Cyra Bammer had 23 digs.

The Rams pulled out to a 20-10 lead in the first set before the Vikings rallied. The Vikings were still down 24-15 when they rattled off six consecutive points, including two kills by Neumeyer and an ace from Nelson, to cut the margin to 24-21. The Rams finally ended the first set on Schnoor’s kill.

After Cornell won the second set, the third set was tight throughout. The set was tied at 23-23 after Sara Schliesman’s kill, but a kill by Boyd and a Lawrence attack error gave the Rams the set and match.

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