Joseph Vanden Acker

Author: Joseph Vanden Acker

Spartans shut out Lawrence

APPLETON, Wis. — The Aurora University men’s soccer team scored early in each half and went on to a 2-0 nonconference victory over Lawrence University on Saturday night.

It was the debut of the Lawrence men’s soccer team in the renovated Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.

Jacob Goehring took the ball away from a Lawrence defender just outside the penalty box and beat keeper Joe Krivit in a one-on-one situtation to give Aurora a 1-0 lead just 4:38 into the match.

The score stayed that way until early in the second half. Xavier Ortiz took a free kick from just outside the box to the left of Krivit, and his bending shot went around the wall and into the net at the 53:13 mark for a 2-0 edge.

Zach McFarland had to make just one save to record the shutout for Aurora (1-1-0). Krivit made four saves for the Vikings (0-1-1).

Box score

Janusiak, Schrobilgen pace Vikings at Tom Barry Invitational

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Lawrence University women’s cross country team finished fourth and the men were seventh at the Tom Barry Invitational on Saturday at Colburn Park.

The Vikings had a pair of top-10 finishers in Josh Janusiak and Erin Schrobilgen.

The Lawrence women finished with 91 points, and St. Norbert won the title with 32 points. The Lawrence men had 160 points, and St. Norbert and MSOE tied for the title with 76.

Janusiak posted a time of 21:40.3 in his first collegiate meet to finish eighth, and Schrobilgen crossed the line in 20:21.6 to finish ninth for the women.

Men’s results

Women’s results

Vikings double up Dubuque

MENOMONIE, Wis. — The Lawrence University women’s tennis team picked up its first win of the season with a 6-3 nonconference victory over the University of Dubuque on Saturday at UW-Stout.

Lawrence (1-1) won two of the three doubles matches and took four singles matches.

Lawrence’s Lilly Endsley and El Goblirsch both picked up their first career singles victories for the Vikings. Endsley won 6-1, 6-1 at No. 2 and Goblirsch won 7-6, 6-3 at No. 6.

Lawrence’s Annie Harincar teamed with Lindsay Holsen at No. 2 double for her first career victory as well.

Lawrence University 6, University of Dubuque 3

Singles competition
1. Arantxa Martinez (DBQ) def. Katie Frankel (LU) 6-3, 7-5
2. Lilly Endsley (LU) def. Marissa Joers (DBQ) 6-1, 6-1
3. Lindsay Holsen (LU) def. Naomi Bokela (DBQ) 6-0, 6-0
4. Elana Lambert (LU) def. Megan Ranney (DBQ) 6-1, 6-4
5. Mariah Scott (DBQ) def. Annie Harincar (LU) 7-6, 1-6, 1-0 (10-4)
6. El Goblirsch (LU) def. Taylor Fortmann (DBQ) 7-6, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Arantxa Martinez/Marissa Joers (DBQ) def. Katie Frankel/Lilly Endsley (LU) 8-4
2. Lindsay Holsen/Annie Harincar (LU) def. Megan Ranney/Mariah Scott (DBQ) 8-2
3. Elana Lambert/El Goblirsch (LU) def. Naomi Bokela/Taylor Fortmann (DBQ) 8-4

Rockford runs past Vikings

APPLETON, Wis. — The Rockford University football team used a powerful running game to roll to a 52-17 nonconference victory over Lawrence University on Saturday.

It was the first football game played on the renovated Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.

Chance Manning ran 32 times for 211 yards and three touchdowns for Rockford (1-0), and he caught two passes for 86 yards and a score. The Regents finished with 58 carries for 438 yards and rolled up 605 yards of offense.

Quarterback Adam O’Malley completed 7-of-13 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown. He also ran 10 times for 62 yards.

Lawrence (0-1) was limited to just 83 yards of offense, including just 25 through the air.

Rockford jumped out to a 21-0 lead after one quarter with a trio of big plays. Pete Berry broke free for a 65-yard scoring run, Manning added a 40-yard TD run and Manning caught a 53-yard touchdown pass.

Manning added two more touchdown runs in the second quarter, and the Regents led 35-0 at the half.

Sophomore Alic Riedel got Lawrence on the board with an 81-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. It was Riedel’s first collegiate touchdown.

Austin Tucker’s 64-yard fumble return set up Lawrence’s next score as the Vikings took over at the Rockford 16-yard line. Trevor Spina punched it in from a yard out two plays later to cut the lead to 45-14.

The Vikings later added a 24-yard field goal from Pat O’Mahoney to complete their scoring.

Box score

St. Mary’s tops Lawrence

ELMHURST, Ill. — The St. Mary’s (Ind.) College volleyball team topped Lawrence University 3-0 in a nonconference match on Friday at Elmhurst Invitational.

St. Mary’s (2-0) won 25-17, 25-16, 25-12.

Meaghan Gibbons had 15 kills and Katie Hecklinski added 14 for St. Mary’s, which had a .300 hitting percentage as a team.

Megan Conley led Lawrence (0-4) with four kills.

Box score

No. 19 Elmhurst shuts out Vikings

ELMHURST, Ill. — The No. 19 Elmhurst College volleyball team stopped Lawrence University 3-0 in a nonconference match on Friday at the Elmhurst Invitational.

The Bluejays (1-0) won 25-12, 25-15, 25-13.

Alli Rogers paced Elmhurst with 12 kills, and Hannah Nimrick had 28 assists.

Rachael Wuensch and Arianna Neumeyer had four kills apiece for Lawrence (0-3).

Box score

Rooney’s goal lifts Vikings past Benedictine

APPLETON, Wis. — Melissa Rooney’s first-half goal proved to be enough as the Lawrence University women’s soccer team stopped Benedictine (Ill.) University 1-0 in a nonconference game on Friday.

It was the first Lawrence (1-1-0) victory in the renovated Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.

Ryan Berkley took a free kick from the far sideline and fired it through the penalty box. Rooney was there on the far side and her shot got between Benedictine goalkeeper Maddie Frye and the near post at the 22:36 mark. It was the first career goal for Rooney, a sophomore.

Benedictine (1-1-0) had several good scoring chances but hit the crossbar three times, and Lawrence goalkeeper Patsy Kealey made 14 saves. Kealey, making just her second start in goal, recorded her first career shutout.

Frye stopped six shots for the Eagles.

Box score

UW-La Crosse shuts out Vikings

APPLETON, Wis. — The UW-La Crosse women’s tennis team posted a 9-0 win over Lawrence University on Friday in the season opener for both squads.

UW-La Crosse 9, Lawrence University 0

Singles competition
1. Bridget Bellissimo (UWL) def. Katie Frankel (LU) 6-0, 6-1
2. Kimmy Mrozek (UWL) def. Lilly Endsley (LU) 6-2, 6-3
3. Jenny Graham (UWL) def. Lindsay Holsen (LU) 6-2, 6-1
4. Kendra Woyahn (UWL) def. Elana Lambert (LU) 6-0, 6-1
5. Sadie Spahn (UWL) def. Annie Harincar (LU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Hayley Clope (UWL) def. El Goblirsch (LU) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Bridget Bellissimo/Kimmy Mrozek (UWL) def. Katie Frankel/Lilly Endsley (LU) 8-2
2. Jenny Graham/Sadie Spahn (UWL) def. Lindsay Holsen/Annie Harincar (LU) 8-0
3. Alaina Bublitz/Hayley Clope (UWL) def. Elana Lambert/Katie Nottberg (LU) 8-3

Inside LU Athletics: McCarthy wants to make his Vikings true believers

Belief is a powerful thing. Thinking you can’t win dooms you to failure. Believing you have a chance to win can inspire great things.

Consider first-year Lawrence University football coach Rob McCarthy a believer.

“We’re not sitting back this year, and our guys aren’t either. We have to believe from within, and then make others believe as we go,” said McCarthy, whose team opens the season on Saturday against Rockford University on Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.

“We definitely think we can be competitive. We hope to finish in the top half of the division. That’s our goal. I think we can surprise some people. I’m excited about that component.”

McCarthy took over the Lawrence program back in January and has been building a coaching staff and a team while installing new offensive and defensive systems.

He started with offensive coordinator Mark Speckman, added defensive coordinator Yon Boone and defensive line coach Chris Cunningham rounds out the full-time staff. McCarthy also added four part-time staff members.

“I couldn’t be more excited about the quality of coaches I’ve got at every position,” McCarthy said. “They are fine coaches, but they’re great, great teachers. I’m thrilled about the staff we’ve been able to put together.”

Those men have been teaching on and off the field.

“Our big rallying point is the commitment to excellence,” said McCarthy, noting that extends from the field to the classroom to the community. “That’s really been a focal point through fall camp. It’s just changing a culture. The atmosphere has been great, and the new guys have acclimated well.”

Lawrence added 11 new faces, and they hail from as far away as Florida and Texas. This talented and athletic group joins the 26 returning players, including local standouts Alic Riedel and Jake Gostisha from Appleton East and Dan Rothbauer and Cole Erickson from Appleton North.

“Camp went very, very well. The guys are eager and hungry to win and they’ve done a great job learning the schemes,” McCarthy said.

“The guys have really bought into what we’re doing and we’re excited for the game on Saturday. They’ve been great and far exceeded my expectations.”

While the “Fly” offense and multiple defensive schemes are new to Lawrence fans, the venue also is dramatically different. Renovations to Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl are ongoing and will be completed shortly, but the early feedback on the renovated facility has been glowing. In short, both the players and the fans love the new look.

“That’s going to be a great place to play,” McCarthy said with a smile. The coach added that the renovated facility figures to be a key recruiting tool as the Vikings “embrace who we are.”

“We’re going to be national recruiters and really focus on the Fox Valley. The key is putting in the work to identify the kids who want to be at a place like Lawrence,” McCarthy said.

“I think kids will be excited about what we’re doing. I know the current kids are.”

Football preview: Lawrence vs. Rockford

The Lawrence University football team kicks off its season on Saturday in the newly renovated Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl. Lawrence hosts Rockford University in a nonconference contest. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

IMPORTANT NOTE: As we enter the 2015 football season, please note that Ron Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl remains under construction. While the facility is ready for play, not all amenities are open for fans so special procedures are in place until further notice.

All fans must enter through the visitors gate on the east side of the stadium (the side opposite the press box). Please walk down along the north side of the visitors stands and make your way along the north boundary of the field to reach the home stands. No entry will be permitted through the main gate since construction is still taking place in that area. The west gate is for entry and exit of the teams only.

Parking is available in the Mead Pool lot on John Street and along Banta Court. Portable bathroom facilities are located on the east side of the stadium and just beyond the north end zone.

Thanks for your patience and understanding as we work through the completion of the facility.

Preview