Joseph Vanden Acker

Author: Joseph Vanden Acker

Ripon has all the answers in win over Vikings

APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University men’s basketball team kept hitting big shots in the second half Tuesday against Ripon College, but the Red Hawks answered every challenge and went on to an 83-67 Midwest Conference victory at Alexander Gymnasium.

Lawrence cut a 20-point Ripon lead down to nine, but Ripon All-American Ty Sabin proved to be too much for the Vikings. Sabin went 11-for-18 from the floor, including 7-for-9 on 3-pointers, on his way to 34 points.

Ben Peterson came off the bench to lead Lawrence with 21 points and five rebounds and went 5-for-10 from beyond the arc. Jeremy Stephani turned in another outstanding all-around game for the Vikings with 20 points, four assists and four rebounds. Freshman Abhishek Venkatesh came off the bench to score 13 points on 5-for-8 shooting and handed out three assists.

Lawrence (9-12, 10-7 MWC) got off to a slow start and Ripon (17-5, 14-3) built a 41-25 lead at the half. Sabin started the second half by drilling a 3-pointer, and Ripon pushed its lead to 20 with 17:35 remaining.

Lawrence started chipping away at the lead but trailed 60-44 after Sabin’s layup with 14:02 left. Venkatesh countered with a 3-pointer as Lawrence went on a 9-3 run, capped by a Venkatesh layup, to cut the lead to 63-53 with 11:19 remaining.

Liam Lesniak answered with a layup for Ripon, but Venkatesh hit another 3-pointer to trim the lead to 65-56. Sabin stepped up and buried a 3-pointer, but Peterson answered with a 3-pointer for the Vikings.

Sabin hit another 3-pointer and went on to score 13 consecutive points for Ripon as the Red Hawks pushed the lead to 78-62. Lawrence then went cold from long range and missed their next four 3-pointers. The Vikings didn’t get closer than 16 points the rest of the way.

Despite the loss Lawrence remains alive for a Midwest Conference Tournament berth. The Vikings are in a three-way tie for third place, and a win at Lake Forest College on Saturday would put the Vikings in the tournament.

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Ripon uses big second, third quarters to top Lawrence

APPLETON, Wis. — The Ripon College women’s basketball team used big second and third quarters Tuesday to roll to a 64-38 Midwest Conference victory over Lawrence University at Alexander Gymnasium.

Ripon outscored the Vikings 35-10 over the middle two quarter to pull away.

Maggie Oimoen went 11-for-13 from the floor on her way to a game-high 23 points for Ripon (16-6, 14-3 MWC). Eleanore Mueller added 11 points and nine rebounds for the Red Hawks.

Aubrey Scott came off the bench to pace Lawrene (2-20, 0-17) with 10 points. Olivia Hoesley added nine points for the Vikings.

Lawrence’s Nicole Cummins nailed a jumper to start the second quarter and cut Ripon’s lead to 14-11. Ripon then reeled off the next 14 points to push its lead to 28-11 with 3:53 left in the first half.

Ripon then opened the third quarter on a 17-3 run, capped by Mueller’s layup, to take a 45-16 lead with 4:43 left in the period. Ripon stretched the lead to as many as 35 points, and Lawrence never got closer than 26 the rest of the way.

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Men’s basketball preview: Lawrence vs. Ripon, at Lake Forest

APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University men’s basketball team faces a pair of crucial games this week as it fights for a berth in the four-team Midwest Conference Tournament.

The Vikings control their own destiny — win two and they’re in. Lawrence hosts Ripon College at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Alexander Gymnasium and then wraps up the regular season on Saturday with a 3 p.m. game at Lake Forest College.

Lawrence, Lake Forest and Cornell College are the three teams vying for the remaining two tournament berths.

Preview

Janusiak runs fastest time in MWC in 5,000

OSHKOSH, Wis. — Lawrence University track and field standout Josh Janusiak was the lone Viking competing on Saturday at the UW-Oshkosh Invitational, but he didn’t let that slow him down.

Janusiak grabbed second place in the 5,000 meters in 15:22.20 and raced to the fastest time in the Midwest Conference in the process. Janusiak battled UW-Whitewater’s Noah Stamsta, who edged Janusiak with a time of 15:19.78.

Janusiak’s time is the fastest in the conference by more than 21 seconds.

The Vikings return to action next Saturday at the UW-Oshkosh Invitational.

Mueller’s goal in OT lifts Vikings over Northland

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University kept its slim playoff hopes alive Saturday with a thrilling 6-5 Northern Collegiate Hockey Association victory over Northland College at the Appleton Family Ice Center.

Brad Mueller’s goal just 57 seconds into overtime gave Lawrence the victory after Northland rallied to tie it on three different occasions in the final period. Mueller scored off a pass from Josh Koepplinger to score his second goal of the season and the first game-winner of his career.

The win keeps the Vikings in the playoff hunt as Lawrence trails Northland by four points with two games left to play.

Lawrence (6-14-3, 5-10-3 NCHA) led 3-2 heading into the third period after Austin Frank’s goal early in the second period had put the Vikings on top.

Lucas DeBenedet scored on the power play just 2:27 into the third to tie the game at 3-3. It didn’t stay tied for long as Lane King scored at the 4:36 mark to put Lawrence up 4-3. Jacob Jeske tied it again for Northland when he scored at the 13:41 mark to make it 4-4.

The Vikings then took advantage of a power-play chance when Koepplinger scored on the man-advantage off a pass from King with 1:09 left in regulation. Northland (10-11-2, 8-9-1) came right back for the equalizer as Ty Kraus scored with 32 seconds left to tie it at 5-5.

Northland jumped on top with a power-play goal from Max Glashauser just 3:15 into the game. Koepplinger countered with a power-play goal of his own at the 5:07 mark to tie the game at 1-1.

Nick Trefry put Northland back on top with a goal at the 8:23 mark, but Blake Roubos scored 31 seconds later to tie the game at 2-2.

Evan Cline picked up his third victory of the season by making 33 saves for the Vikings. AJ Smith stopped 48 shots and took the loss for Northland. Lawrence had a 54-38 edge in shots.

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Vikings win hard-fought victory over Monmouth

APPLETON, Wis. — It was a must-win game Saturday for the Lawrence University men’s basketball team, and the Vikings pulled out a gritty 68-65 Midwest Conference victory over Monmouth College at Alexander Gymnasium.

The Vikings held off the Scots with some critical defensive stops and contributions large and small from a multitude of players. Lawrence is tied with Lake Forest College for third place in the league standings with both teams one game ahead of Cornell College as all three fight for the remaining two MWC Tournament berths.

Jeremy Stephani and Ben Peterson paced Lawrence (9-11, 10-6 MWC) with 13 points apiece, and Stephani handed out a game-high six assists. Eric Weiss and Mitch Willer added 10 points apiece for the Vikings, and Willer grabbed a team-best seven rebounds.

Lamont Mitchell led Monmouth (6-15, 6-10) with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Monmouth’s Justin Aluya added 20 points on the strength of going 16-for-22 from the foul line before fouling out.

Lawrence built a 13-point edge at 41-28 early in the second half, but the Scots chipped away and tied it at 53-53 with 6:15 remaining. It would remain tight the rest of the way, but Lawrence never gave up the lead.

The Vikings built the lead back to four as Connor Weas hit a 3-pointer and then drained two free throws for a 61-57 advantage. The Scots trimmed the margin to 62-60 on a pair of Mitchell free throws with 2:55 remaining.

Lawrence then got three consecutive defensive stops, including one when freshman Tyler Klug drew a key offensive foul against Aluya, who fouled out of the game with 1:51 left.

After Paul Engo made a free throw to trim the lead to 62-61 with 1:07 left, Weiss came up with a huge driving layup to give the Vikings a 64-61 lead with 54 seconds left.

A pair of Mitchell free throws cut Lawrence’s lead to 64-63, and Weiss was fouled with 28 seconds left. He made both free throws, but Mitchell answered with a layup for the Scots. Weas was then fouled with 14 seconds left and made both free throws for a 68-65 lead.

Mitchell missed a 3-pointer with six seconds left, but Jon Matthews tracked down the rebound for Monmouth. His off-balance 3-pointer also missed, and the Vikings grabbed the rebound as time expired.

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Scots shoot past Lawrence

APPLETON, Wis. — The Monmouth College women’s basketball team hit 12 3-pointers Saturday en route to a 72-39 Midwest Conference victory over Lawrence University at Alexander Gymnasium.

The Scots went 12-for-24 from beyond the arc and were led by rookie Yvonne Ornelas. She went 9-for-10 from the floor, including 5-for-6 on 3-pointers, on her way to a game-high 23 points.

Leah Reeves came off the bench to pace Lawrence (2-19, 0-16 MWC)with 11 points, and she pulled down six rebounds. Natalie Kramer added 10 points for the Vikings, and Shonell Benjamin grabbed seven rebounds.

The Scots were hot from the start, hitting their first four shots from the floor and making their first four 3-pointers. Monmouth had built an 18-5 lead just six minutes into the game.

Lawrence got four consecutive points from Reeves and a pair of free throws from Kramer to trim the margin to 18-11 after one quarter. The Scots stretched the lead to 17 before Lauren Deveikis hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds to cut the lead to 35-21 at the half.

Monmouth started the second half on a 16-6 run to pull away to a 51-27 edge. Lawrence never got closer than 21 points after that.

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Jumes, Schuman-Kline not enough to clip Eagles

APPLETON, Wis. — David Jumes and Bill Schuman-Kline accounted for all of Lawrence University’s points Friday night as the Vikings fell to UW-La Crosse 6-3 in a nonconference men’s tennis match at Fox Cities Racquet Club.

Jumes and Schuman-Kline got the Vikings started by posting an 8-6 victory at No. 1 doubles.

Schuman-Kline then took down Austin Stefanich 6-3, 7-5 at No. 2 singles. Jumes won a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (10-8) victory at No. 1 singles.

UW-La Crosse 6, Lawrence University 3

Singles competition
1. David Jumes (LU) def. Kyle McGrane (UWL) 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (10-7)
2. Bill Schuman-Kline (LU) def. Austin Stefanich (UWL) 6-3, 7-5
3. Matt Riley (UWL) def. Connor Maloney (LU) 6-1, 6-7 (2-7), 1-0 (10-8)
4. Matt Lindsay (UWL) def. Izaya Turenne (LU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Simon Brandt (UWL) def. Cade Francour (LU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Riley Peterson (UWL) def. Aidan Delgado (LU) 6-1, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. David Jumes/Bill Schuman-Kline (LU) def. Kyle Wogahn/Matt Riley (UWL) 8-6
2. Kyle McGrane/Matt Lindsay (UWL) def. Izaya Turenne/David Brooker (LU) 8-2
3. Austin Stefanich/Simon Brandt (UWL) def. Connor Maloney/Cade Francour (LU) 8-3

Lumberjacks hold off Lawrence

APPLETON, Wis. — Northland College held off a flurry of shots in the final two periods Friday night to score a 4-3 Northern Collegiate Hockey Association victory over Lawrence University at the Appleton Family Ice Center.

The Vikings fired 27 shots on goal in the final two periods, but Northland took advantage of its limited opportunities to score twice in the third period for the victory. Lawrence had a 37-19 edge in shots for the game.

The game was tied at 2-2 heading to the third period when Northland (10-10-2, 8-8-1 NCHA) scored twice in a span of just 1:25 to take control.

Kalib Ford’s slap shot from above the face-off circle at the 13:14 mark gave Northland a 3-2 edge. Kurt Sonne then scored at the 14:39 mark to put the Lumberjacks up 4-3.

Lawrence (5-14-3, 4-10-3) battled back when Matt Beranek scored off a rebound at the 16:45 mark to slice the advantage to 4-3.

The Vikings pulled goaltender Evan Cline with 1:42 left for an extra attacker and fired multiple shots at AJ Smith. With the defense piled up in front of the net, the Lumberjacks were able to block several shots and hang on.

Smith finished with 34 saves to pick up the win. Cline stopped 15 shots and took the loss.

The Lumberjacks grabbed a 2-0 lead with first-period goals from Kyle Salmon and Josh Racek.

Lawrence then scored twice in the second period in a span of 1:58 to even the score. Luke McDiarmid got the scoring started for Lawrence when he created a turnover and beat Smith at the 8:21 mark to cut the margin in half.

After the Vikings were whistled for roughing at the 9:20 mark, Lawrence picked up a short-handed goal. The Vikings had the puck and caught Northland in a line change. Some pretty passing led to Sean Reynolds’ short-hander at the 10:19 mark to tie the game at 2-2.

The teams wrap up the series Saturday afternoon.

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