The Lawrence University hockey team opens its season with a home-and-home series with Concordia (Wis.) University this weekend. The Vikings play at Concordia on Friday and then return to the Appleton Family Ice Center for Saturday night’s home opener.
Category: Hockey
Hockey opener vs. Rampage canceled
The Lawrence University vs. Pleasant Prairie Rampage game set for Saturday (Oct. 27) night has been canceled.
It was going to be the first time Lawrence had faced a junior team in an exhibition game since the Vikings defeated the Soo Thunderbirds to open the 2008-09 season.
Lawrence will open its regular season on Nov. 2 when it travels to Concordia (Wis.) University. The Vikings play their home opener on Nov. 3 against Concordia at 7 p.m. at the Appleton Family Ice Center.
Inside LU Athletics: Vikings ready to drop puck on new season
The Lawrence University hockey team came tantalizingly close to a huge breakthrough last season. It was like the difference between a puck clanging off the pipe or finding the back of the net.
The Vikings’ season ended with a 2-1 loss to 2011 national runner-up Adrian College in the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association Harris Cup semifinals despite dominating the Bulldogs. Lawrence begins the 2012-13 season on Oct. 27 when it hosts the Wisconsin Rampage in an exhibition game, and the Vikings are setting a very high standard.
“We are looking to continue to be a tough team to play against every night – a team that never quits,” Lawrence coach Mike Szkodzinski said. “We will work hard away from the puck and be responsible defensively if we hope to contend for an MCHA title.”
Lawrence, which was picked to finish third in the MCHA in the preseason coaches’ poll, finished 13-11-4 a season ago. The Vikings lost the most successful group of seniors in the program’s history, including All-MCHA selections Matt Hughes at forward and Jameson Raymond on defense, to graduation.
“We lost some great players, but more importantly, great humans to graduation last year and they will be difficult to replace,” Szkodzinski said. “We will need to find young men in this group who can step into more significant roles both on and off the ice. Strong leadership is the key to any successful team.”
Senior forward and captain Brad Scurfield led the team in scoring last season with 27 points and had a team-best 19 assists. The Vikings also have senior forward Phil Bushbacher back after he scored 13 goals and handed out 12 assists for 25 points last season.
“We feel like we added some depth and scoring this year,” Szkodzinski said. “However, we will need our returners to play a major role in our scoring. Brad Scurfield and Phil Bushbacher worked extremely hard this summer and we expect them both to have a strong senior campaign. We also expect an up-tick in scoring from other returning players as they seem to be in great physical shape heading into the season.”
The Vikings return other experienced forwards, including Gustav Lindgren, Patrick Coyne, Paul Zuke and Huck Saunders. Lawrence also has newcomers Logan Lemirande, Rudi Pino, Matt Moore, Renato Engler and Brandon Boelter.
“The incoming freshmen have potential to make an impact from day one,” Szkodzinski said. “We will have to see how quickly they can adjust to the demanding schedule and pace of the college game.”
While the Vikings should be better on offense, Lawrence has a big hole to fill on defense with Raymond’s graduation. The good news is former all-conference selection William Thoren is back, along with junior Kevin Killian and sophomore Erik Soderlund.
“We fully expect William Thoren, Erik Soderlund and Kevin Killian to be the core of our blue line and help eat up the minutes that Raymond consumed over the past four years,” Szkodzinski said.
The last line of defense was occupied almost exclusively last season by rookie Peter Emery. All he did was set a Lawrence season record with a .924 save percentage while picking up 12 wins and a pair of shutouts. Lawrence also is deep with senior Michael Baldino and sophomore Anton Olsson.
“Peter Emery had a very good first season,” Szkodzinski said. “He gave a chance to win just about every night. He will be challenged by Anton Olsson and Mike Baldino, both of whom have had a strong preseason.”
Walk this way
The Mount Mary College volleyball team was late in arriving for its match at Alexander Gymnasium on Tuesday, and that’s because the Blue Angels’ bus driver led them astray.
The driver mistakenly dropped the team off at the Buchanan Kiewit Wellness Center, which is on the north bank of the Fox River. Alexander Gym is a half-mile away on the south side of the river.
Once the Blue Angels realized the mistake, the coaches called the driver but couldn’t reach him. The team then walked to Alexander Gym, and the match started 15 minutes late.
Lawrence rolled to a 3-0 win over Mount Mary in a match that lasted just 56 minutes.
Topping two grand
Junior setter Diane McLeod passed the 2,000-assist plateau in the Lawrence volleyball team’s win at Beloit last Friday. McLeod now has 2,057 assists for her career and ranks second on the career list behind Georgia Seals (3,100).
Editor’s Note: Inside LU Athletics is a notes package written by Lawrence University Director of Athletic Media Relations 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.
Vikings picked for third in MCHA preseason poll
Lawrence University has been tabbed for third place in the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association preseason poll in a vote by league coaches.
Adrian College was the top choice with 49 points, and the Bulldogs received the maximum of seven first-place votes. MSOE was picked for second with 42 points and got the other first-place vote.
The Vikings were third with 34 points. Lawrence went 13-11-4 last season, including an 11-6-3 mark in conference play.
Marian University was fourth with 28, Concordia (Wis.) University was fifth with 23, Lake Forest College was sixth with 22, Finlandia University was seventh with 20 and Northland College was eighth with eight.
The Vikings open their season Oct. 27 with an exhibition game against the Wisconsin Rampage at the Appleton Family Ice Center.
Three Vikings sign pro hockey contracts
Three Lawrence University hockey players have signed to play for professional teams in the United States and Sweden.
Defenseman Jameson Raymond, forward Matt Hughes and forward Ben DiMarco, all 2012 Lawrence graduates, have signed pro contracts.
“This is an exciting time for the three young men and our program,” Lawrence coach Mike Szkodzinski said. “The program has grown and is respected at the professional level. Ben, Jameson and Matt have all worked extremely hard for their opportunities and most certainly are the type of young men who represent Lawrence University hockey very, very well. The coaching staff couldn’t be happier for them.”
Raymond, a native of Flint, Mich., has signed with the Knoxville Ice Bears of the Southern Professional Hockey League. Raymond was an All-Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association selection in 2011-12 after scoring three goals and adding 16 assists for 29 points. Raymond scored 18 goals and had 55 assists for 73 points in 111 career games.
Hughes, who hails from Goodrich, Mich., is playing with Hedemora SK of the Swedish Division 1. Hughes, also an All-MCHA selection in 2011-12, scored 15 goals and added 12 assists for 27 points. Hughes scored 46 goals and handed out 45 assists for 91 points in his career.
A native of Galveston, Texas, DiMarco signed with Vallentuna BK of the Swedish Division 1. DiMarco had one goal and three assists for four points this past season and finished his career with 21 goals and 28 assists for 49 points.
This trio of players was key over the past four seasons as Lawrence won 53 games, the best four-year stretch in the program’s history.
The trio of Hughes, Raymond and DiMarco join five other Lawrence players that have signed pro contracts during Szkodzinski’s tenure. Josh Peterson (Flint Generals), Nick Jennette (Huntsville Havoc), Corey Garrett (Finland), Josh DeSmit (Finland) and Billy Siers (Elmira Jackals) have all played professionally.
Lawrence opens its season on Oct. 27 at the Appleton Family Ice Center with an exhibition game against the Wisconsin Rampage.
Proctor, four from class of 2002 headed to Hall of Fame
Long-time women’s basketball coach Amy Proctor and four athletes from the class of 2002 will be inducted into the Lawrence University Intercollegiate Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 5.
Proctor is joined by wrestler Andy Kazik, hockey and soccer star Tom Conti, dominating swimmer Daniel Hurley and soccer standout Megan Tiemann.
Amy Proctor
A native of Green Bay, Wis., Amy Proctor resurrected the Lawrence women’s basketball program and no basketball coach has won more games with the Vikings.
Proctor served as the head women’s basketball coach for 19 seasons from 1988 to 2007 and compiled a record of 247-192 for a .563 winning percentage. Proctor won two Midwest Conference championships, one Lake Michigan Conference championship and her teams made one NCAA Division III Tournament appearance.
Proctor took over a program that had seen its season canceled in 1987-88 and immediately led the squad to the 1989 Lake Michigan Conference title. The Vikings followed that by winning the Midwest Conference title in 1990. Lawrence won the Midwest Conference championship again in 1999 and played in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Proctor was named Midwest Conference Coach of the Year in 1999.
Proctor’s teams won a school-record 19 games in 1992-93 and matched that mark again in 2005-06. The Vikings had 14 winning seasons and 16 seasons of .500 or better in Proctor’s 19 years at the helm. Lawrence also qualified for the four-team Midwest Conference Tournament 12 times under Proctor.
When Proctor first came to Lawrence, she also served as head volleyball coach. She coached the Vikings for five seasons (1988-92) and had a record of 56-82. Proctor had two winning seasons and the team set a school record with 18 victories in 1992, a mark that stood until 2001.
Proctor also served as director of athletics from 1993-99 and oversaw a transformation of the coaching staff. Proctor hired John Tharp to guide the men’s basketball program and Kim Tatro to coach the softball and volleyball squads. Proctor also expanded the coaching staff to allow men’s and women’s soccer and hockey to have full-time coaches.
Proctor retired from college coaching in 2007 and now works as a commercial lines underwriter at Secura Insurance.
Tom Conti ’02
Tom Conti starred on the pitch and the ice for the Vikings.
For the Lawrence hockey team, Conti scored goals. For the Lawrence soccer team, Conti stopped the opposition from scoring.
A forward on the hockey team, Conti was the school’s career scoring leader with 89 points when he graduated. Conti’s 40 goals and 49 assists also made him the career leader when his career was complete.
An All-Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association selection in 2002, Conti set Lawrence records with nine points and seven assists in the same game against Illinois Benedictine College back in 1998. A team captain, Conti set school season records with 29 points and 19 assists in 1998-99.
A defender for the soccer team, Conti spearheaded the Lawrence defense for four seasons. A three-time All-Midwest Conference selection (1999, 2000, 2001), Conti was at the forefront of the renaissance of the men’s soccer program under head coach Blake Johnson. Conti also earned National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Central Region honors in 2001.
Conti won Lawrence’s Outstanding Freshman Athletic Award for Men and also earned the Iden Charles Champion Cup. In addition, Conti was one of four finalists for the Hockey Humanitarian Award.
A stellar student, Conti was a CoSIDA four-time Academic All-Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association selection. He earned the maximum of three Academic All-Midwest Conference selections and was a two-time Academic All-District 5 selection.
A native of Atlanta, Ga., Conti is a software developer at Epic Systems and lives in Monona, Wis.
Daniel Hurley ’02
I guess you could say Daniel Hurley is a perfectionist.
The native of St. Phillip’s, Newfoundland, went 12-for-12 in individual races at the Midwest Conference Championships and was named the league’s Swimmer of the Year three times. Hurley never lost an individual race at the Midwest Conference Championships and led Lawrence to the 2000 team title. Hurley finished his career with 17 conference titles, earning five relay crowns to go with the 12 individual titles.
Hurley won the 1,650-yard freestyle, 500 freestyle and 400 individual medley to go along with being on the winning 800 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay teams at the 1999 Midwest Conference Championships. Lawrence won the team title in 2000, and Hurley won his first of three consecutive Midwest Conference Swimmer of the Year awards. He again won 1,650 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 400 IM and also swam on the winning 400 freestyle relay and 800 freestyle relay teams.
Hurley took home individual titles in the 500 freestyle and 400 IM but added his first crown in the 200 butterfly at the 2001 Midwest Conference Championships. He also was part of the winning 400 freestyle relay team on his way to winning Swimmer of the Year honors. Hurley swept the same three races (200 butterfly, 400 IM, 500 freestyle) at the 2002 Midwest Conference Championships on his way to his third consecutive Swimmer of the Year award.
Hurley set Midwest Conference records in 500 freestyle (4:41.01), 1,000 freestyle (9:51.40) and 1,650 freestyle (16:29.69). He also set Midwest Conference Championships records in 500 freestyle (4:41.01), 1,000 freestyle (9:51.40), 1,650 freestyle (16:29.69) and 400 IM (4:10.44). Hurley also continues to hold Lawrence records in the 500 freestyle, 1,000 freestyle, 1,650 freestyle and 800 freestyle relay.
Hurley also is a 12-time Wisconsin Private College Championship champion (four titles in 2002, three in 2001, three in 2000, two in 1999) and helped the Vikings win the team title in 1999, 2000 and 2002.
An outstanding student as well, Hurley earned the maximum of three Academic All-Midwest Conference selections. He also was named a NCAA Postgraduate Scholar.
Hurley is a postdoctoral psychology resident at the Washington State University Psychology Clinic and lives in Moscow, Idaho.
Andy Kazik ’02
Andy Kazik stands alone atop the podium of Lawrence wrestling because behind his name are the words “national champion.”
The native of De Pere, Wis., became the only Lawrence wrestler to win a NCAA Division III title when he won the crown at 184 pounds in 2002.
A two-time All-American, Kazik compiled a career record of 129-18, and that is good for second on the Lawrence career wins list. His career .878 winning percentage ranks fourth all-time, but it is first among wrestlers with at least 50 victories.
A three-time qualifier for the NCAA Division III Championships, Kazik completed a 40-0 season in 2002 by winning the national title. He defeated Augsburg College’s Ricky Crone 4-2 in the national title match. Kazik’s 40-0 record ranks first in season winning percentage and is the third-most wins in a season.
Kazik finished 41-4 in 2000-01 and earned All-America honors for the first time when he finished third at 184 pounds at the NCAA Championships. Kazik and teammate Ross Mueller both finished third at the NCAA Championships in 2001, and the Vikings finished 10th in the team standings, the highest finish ever by a Lawrence team at the national meet. Kazik’s 41 wins in 2000-01 is the second-highest season total in Lawrence history.
As a sophomore in 1999-2000, Kazik went 32-6 and qualified for the NCAA Championships for the first time. Kazik, who ranks eighth on the Lawrence list with 22 pins, began his career with a 16-8 mark as a freshman in 1998-99.
Kazik also played football in the 2002 season, started at linebacker and led the team with 89 tackles.
Kazik lives in De Pere and is an outside sales representative at McJunkin Red Man Corp., in Appleton.
Megan Tiemann ’02
Megan Tiemann was the offensive force that powered Lawrence women’s soccer to the top of the Midwest Conference.
A forward for the Vikings, Tiemann was a two-time Midwest Conference Player of the Year and four-time all-conference selection. Tiemann led the Vikings to two Midwest Conference Tournament titles and the 2000 Midwest Conference championship.
A native of Kent, Wash., Tiemann graduated as Lawrence’s career leader with 55 goals, 25 assists and 135 points.
Tiemann scored 17 goals and had five assists for 39 points on her way to being named Midwest Conference Player of the Year in 1998. The Vikings finished 11-6-1 and went 7-1-1 in the conference that season. Tiemann was a first-team all-conference selection in 1999 as she scored 17 goals and had 10 assists for 44 points in 1999. The Vikings advanced to the Midwest Conference Tournament championship game in both 1998 and 1999.
Tiemann scored both goals, including the game-winner in the third overtime, in the 2000 Midwest Conference Tournament championship game. In leading Lawrence to its first Midwest Conference championship, Tiemann scored eight goals and had five assists for 21 points and was a first-team all-conference pick for the 2000 season. The Vikings also played in the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in 2000.
Tiemann was named the 2001 Midwest Conference Player of the Year when she scored 13 goals and had five assists for 31 points. Lawrence won a school-record 13 games, and Tiemann scored the only goal in the Vikings’ 1-0 win over St. Norbert College in the title game at the Midwest Conference Tournament.
Lawrence became the first Midwest Conference team to host, and win, a NCAA Division III Tournament game when the Vikings beat Aurora University 2-1 in 2001. Tiemann scored both goals in Lawrence’s victory.
Tiemann lives in Washington, D.C., and is a sergeant with the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department.
Lawrence Welcomes Old, New Rivals to Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association
The Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association continues to grow. And this time, it will change the face of NCAA Division III hockey in the West.
The league announced Tuesday (6/19) that St. Norbert College and the College of St. Scholastica have accepted invitations to become members of the league beginning in the 2013-14 campaign.
“This is a great and exciting day for the MCHA,” league commissioner Dr. G. Steven Larson said. “We are very enthused about having the College of St. Scholastica and St. Norbert College as colleagues. The strong academic and hockey tradition they bring will be an outstanding fit for our new members and the MCHA membership.”
Mike Szkodzinski, Lawrence’s director of athletics and head coach of the Vikings’ hockey team since 2006, said the league would gain “instant credibility in some different circles” with the additions of the two programs.
“It will enhance our recruiting efforts. Now we will be able to state that our conference includes the defending national champions, the 2011 national runners-up and four different teams who have appeared in the NCAA tournament over the past two years,” said Szkodzinski, who earned All-America honors as a goaltender in 1999 for St. Norbert. “We couldn’t say those things in years past, but now we can and the future of this conference is as bright as ever.
“St. Norbert and St. Scholastica have always welcomed MCHA competition with open arms,” Szkodzinski added. “To have them in our conference now seems very fitting. We have like philosophies and we seem to conduct business similarly on and off the ice. Coach Wick and Coach Coghlin are two of the most respected coaches in the nation. It is personally gratifying to be in the same conference as my alma mater but it is even more exciting to know that the conference just got better.”
The MCHA, which enters its 15th season of play in 2012-13, has grown steadily from a small, six-member conference back in 1998 into 10 teams when the Green Knights and Saints are added to the league slate starting in 2013.
“We are very pleased to have the College of St. Scholastica and St. Norbert College join the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association,” MCHA Presidents Council Chair Dr. Jeffery Docking said. “Their tradition of excellence in academics and athletics will further enhance the quality and reputation of the MCHA as one of the premier conferences in NCAA Division III men’s ice hockey.”
“This is a monumental occasion for the MCHA and its member institutions,” MCHA DASC Chair Rob Barnhill said. “We are all very excited and enthusiastic about the addition of these institutions and full-well realize that the conference title just became more difficult to obtain. St. Scholastica and St. Norbert are perfect fits for us at this time, and their membership enhances the visibility and viability of our league.”
The Green Knights bring an impressive resume to the MCHA, having won NCAA D-III national championships in 2008, 2011 and again in 2012 when they compiled a record of 21-5-5.
“This also strengthens and elevates the national reputation of the MCHA in NCAA III men’s ice hockey, as demonstrated by St. Norbert’s consecutive national championships in 2011 and 2012 along with the national runner-up finish of Adrian College in 2011,” Larson said. “This past season alone, four teams finished in the national rankings with St. Norbert at No. 1, MSOE at No. 8, Adrian at No. 11, and St. Scholastica at No. 19 [receiving votes]. In addition, Lawrence and Marian were ranked during the course of the year.”
St. Norbert has claimed 13 of the past 16 conference regular-season crowns it has competed for, with head coach Tim Coghlin accumulating a 19-year mark of 411-113-45.
“St. Norbert College is excited to be joining a hockey conference with a membership of liberal arts institutions with similar profiles,” said St. Norbert Director of Athletics Tim Bald. “During its history, the MCHA has been very progressive in its leadership and as a result has seen the profile of the conference rise exponentially. We are excited to become a part of that and look forward to the future as a MCHA member.”
St. Scholastica went 15-8-5 last season and was nationally-ranked the majority of the year, rising as high as No. 11. During the past four seasons, it has compiled an impressive 61-37-14 record, finishing fifth in the country at the end of the 2008-09 season, a campaign that saw CSS rise to as high as No. 2 in the polls in January of 2009.
“The College of St. Scholastica was honored to receive and pleased to accept an invitation to become a member of the MCHA,” CSS Director of Athletics Don Olson said. “St. Scholastica’s philosophy and competitive goals align perfectly with the other members of the conference. We look forward to a long and positive relationship with the other nine members of the MCHA.”
The expansion is the first since the start of the 2009-10 season, when Lake Forest College joined the conference. Both new members come to the MCHA from the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association.
“The past and present coaches within our conference have always worked diligently to improve not only their individual programs, but the entire MCHA,” said Szkodzinski. “There is a real sense of pride amongst the members of the MCHA and that has translated into excellent hockey. It is amazing to see how quickly our member institutions have improved – and very satisfying. There is no doubt that the addition of St. Norbert and St. Scholastica will only bolster that growth. The hockey that this conference will display in the future should be tremendous.”
Starting in 2013-14, the MCHA will play a complete 18-game round-robin schedule with a two-game series vs. each team. Discussions are also underway with the commissioners of both the MIAC and WIAC regarding collaborative scheduling.
“Our student-athletes and fans can look forward to very entertaining and exciting collegiate hockey at a high caliber that will encompass four states,” Larson said. “Needless to say, the future of MCHA hockey looks bright as we move ahead.”
Vikings fall to Adrian in Harris Cup semifinals
ADRIAN, Mich. — Lawrence University came close again against No. 6 Adrian College, but the Bulldogs held on for a 2-1 victory in the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association Harris Cup semifinals on Saturday at Arrington Arena.
This marks the third time in three meetings this season that Adrian (20-5-1) posted a one-goal win over the Vikings (13-11-4).
Adrian scored both of its goals in a two-minute span in the first period.
After Huck Saunders got sent off for cross-checking at the 12:48 mark, Adrian’s Shelby Gray scored just nine seconds later on the power play for a 1-0 lead. Adrian finished 1-for-4 on the power play.
Zach Graham then made it 2-0 just 2:03 later on an even-strength goal for the Bulldogs.
Lawrence battled back midway through the second period. After Josh Ranalli was whistled for a five-minute charging penalty at 6:47, the Vikings cashed in. Brad Scurfield scored a power-play goal off assists from Jameson Raymond and Matt Hughes at the 10:28 mark. Lawrence went 1-for-5 on the power play.
The Vikings then dominated play in the third period but could not get the equalizier. Lawrence outshot the Bulldogs 13-2 in the third period and enjoyed a 36-24 edge in shots for the game. Adrian didn’t get a shot on net in the final 17 minutes of the game.
Lawrence had one power-play chance in the third period when Ranalli got a two-minute charging penalty at the 10:53 mark. The Vikings got four shots on net during the power play but couldn’t get one past goaltender Scott Shackell.
Shackell stopped 35 shots in the victory.
The Vikings pulled goaltender Peter Emery with 1:14 remaining but couldn’t get a shot on goal. Emery stopped 22 shots for the Vikings.
Adrian faces either MSOE or Marian University in the Harris Cup championship game on Sunday.
Hughes, Raymond earn All-MCHA honors
Matt Hughes and Jameson Raymond have been named to the All-Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association Team in a vote by league coaches.
Hughes (Goodrich, Mich.), a senior forward, and Raymond (Flint, Mich.), a senior defenseman, were both chosen for the first time.
Lawrence also had six players chosen for the academic all-conference team.
Hughes led the team with 12 goals in MCHA play, and he added 10 assists for 22 points. Hughes in tied for fifth in the conference in goals per game. On the season, Hughes has 15 goals and 11 assists for 26 points heading into this weekend’s Harris Cup semifinals.
Hughes ranks fourth in Lawrence history with 46 goals and is sixth with 90 points.
Raymond, who was named to the All-MCHA Freshman Team back in 2009, finished second in the league among scoring by defensemen. Raymond picked up three goals and 14 assists for 17 points in MCHA play. On the season, Raymond has three goals and 15 assists for 18 points.
Raymond ranks fifth in school history with 54 assists and is ninth with 72 points.
Senior defenseman Jesse Byam-Katzman (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and senior forward Ben DiMarco (Galveston, Texas) were both honored on the academic all-conference team for the third time.
Junior goaltender Michael Baldino (Woburn, Mass.) was named to the team for the second time, and junior goaltender Kevin Aslett (Portland, Ore.), junior forward Phil Bushbacher (Glenview, Ill.) and sophomore defenseman William Thoren (Gothenburg, Sweden) were all chosen for the first time.
To be eligible for the academic all-conference team, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore and have a minimum 3.0 grade point average.
Inside LU Athletics: Vikings set for Harris Cup showdown
The Lawrence University hockey team has reached the point of the season where it’s one and done so the Vikings are clearly focusing on the one and not the done.
Lawrence heads to Adrian College this weekend for the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association Harris Cup semifinals. The Vikings face the host school, Adrian, in one of Saturday’s semifinals, and MSOE takes on Marian University in the other.
The prize at the end of Sunday’s championship game is the Harris Cup and a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
“As has been the case all year, one game at a time,” Lawrence head coach Mike Szkodzinski said. “It may be cliché, but at this time of the year, clichés are real.”
Lawrence (13-10-4) has embraced a certain style of play and has seen results by winning eight of its last 10.
“The real challenge this time of year is staying focused on the task at hand,” said Szkodzinski, who has 21 freshmen or sophomores on the team. “Our team has bought into the idea of focusing on the plan, and the results will take care of themselves. We have lofty goals, but we can’t reach those goals without taking care of what’s directly in front of us.”
Standing in Lawrence’s path is MCHA champion Adrian (19-5-1), the 2011 national runner-up. The sixth-ranked Bulldogs aren’t quite the scoring juggernaut they have been in recent seasons, but Adrian remains a formidable foe.
Slowing down Adrian is the task for freshman goaltender Peter Emery and the Lawrence defensemen.
“Our total team defense has been very consistent over the past 10 games,” Szkodzinski said. “Peter has been there when we need him, especially in overtime last Saturday, but our defense has also been there for him as well. Our program is built on solid team defense and we think we have the talent to execute that philosophy.”
Emery is 12-8-3 on the season with a 2.39 goals against average and .924 save percentage. Over the last 10 games to which Szkodzinski referred, Emery has been even better with a 1.97 GAA and .937 save percentage.
“We have been fairly consistent since the beginning of January,” Szkodzinski said. “We have really done a good job limiting the ‘grade A’ chances against us, and Emery has made some big stops at key times. The confidence in the defense has led to our forwards being a bit more aggressive in the offensive zone as well.”
Lawrence has seen an uptick in its offense in the last 10 games with an average of 3.6 goals per game. Over the first 17 games, the Vikings averaged only 2.7 goals per contest. That extra one goal per game has helped Lawrence forge an 8-1-1 record in the last 10 contests.
Junior forward Brad Scurfield has scored six goals and handed out 10 assists for 16 points in the last 10 games. On the season, Scurfield has 12 goals and a team-high 19 assists for a team-leading 31 points. Scurfield’s linemates, Matt Hughes (15-11-26) and Phil Bushbacher (13-12-25), are second and third, respectively, on the team in scoring.
The other factor that really stood out in Lawrence’s MCHA quarterfinal playoff series win over Finlandia University last weekend was the Vikings’ physical play. Lawrence took it to the Lions with some bone-crunching hits, and that seemed to set the tone for the Vikings’ play all weekend.
“We try to play aggressively in all three zones and part of that means taking the body,” Szkodzinski said. “We talk about ‘separating and eliminating’ the opponents from the puck and the play. To do that, we need to be physical and compete at a high level.”
The Vikings will need to play at that high level to beat any of the three teams this weekend. In Lawrence’s eight total games this season with Adrian, MSOE and Marian, the goal differential stands at zero. Lawrence lost a pair of 3-2 games in its only meetings with Adrian this season.
“Our big players need to make big plays at key moments,” Szkodzinski said of matchup against Adrian. “Our role players need to do their jobs relentlessly. If we execute our game plan, this will be a very competitive game once again and hopefully we can get a big play at the right time.”
Making the grade
The Lawrence cross country teams were named United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Scholar Teams for the third consecutive year.
The Lawrence women had a 3.40 team grade point average, and the men were at 3.38. To be eligible for the award, a team must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.10 through the fall term.
Stevens takes title
Junior Sam Stevens continued his great year by taking a title at the Midwest Conference Indoor Championships this past weekend. Stevens, who won the individual title and led Lawrence to the conference cross country championship in the fall, won the 5,000 meters in 15:21.93.
Stevens also ran to a third-place finish in the 3,000 and anchored the second-place distance medley relay team.
Bolgrien runs to record
Freshman Anna Bolgrien finished third in the 60-meter hurdles at the MWC Championships this past weekend and set a school record with a time of 9.58 seconds.
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.