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Inside LU Athletics: Lawrence men’s soccer a real team effort

The Lawrence University men’s soccer team is a group that brings a lunch pail to work every day.

It’s one of those metal lunch boxes with a thermos of strong, black coffee that your Dad took to the paper mill every morning. That image fits this group Vikings because they are definitely blue collar, working class guys.

“We are who we are and the kids understand that,” Lawrence coach Blake Johnson said. “Collectively, we need to work together, stand together to be successful. That’s the best-case scenario. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Without a true “star” among its starting 11, Lawrence has carved out a 4-4-1 record (1-1-1 in Midwest Conference play) with bit of a patchwork lineup.

Lawrence has played all season with its lone all-conference selection from a season ago, defender Charlie Mann, because of injury. The Vikings also started the season without injured midfielder Joe Cullen, midfielder Karl Mayer and defender Nick Craker.

“It hasn’t made it easier,” Johnson said of the injuries. “This year, more than any other year, we’ve been juggling and piecemealing things together until we can get everyone back.”

The injuries forced changes to the lineup, and that has revealed the character of the squad, according to Johnson. In addition to giving others a chance to step up their games, the biggest change to the lineup was moving playmaking midfielder David Caprile to the defense. Caprile led the team in scoring a season ago.

“Caprile, for three years, has been a rock in the midfield and understood his role,” Johnson said. “He has taken the opportunity and the need for the team to be the center fullback. As a coach, those are the kind of kids you want in your program. They will do what is necessary for the benefit of the team.”

Despite the injuries and the alterations to the lineup, expectations and the Vikings’ style have not changed.

The Vikings are still shooting to be one of the four teams playing in the MWC Tournament at the end of the season. Lawrence is aiming for its third consecutive MWC Tournament appearance and its fourth in the last five seasons. Lawrence also has continued to play its style, preferring the type game that Johnson fell in love with during his childhood in South America.

“I’ve continued to challenge them to play the game the way it should be played … Possession soccer, rather than just hammering the ball down the field,” Johnson said. “I don’t think our kids would enjoy that, and I wouldn’t enjoy that.

“If (Monday’s) game (a 1-0 victory over Wisconsin Lutheran College) was any indication, I was very pleased with the way we played and the energy and the urgency.”

Lawrence faces another huge test when it travels to defending conference champion Carroll University on Sunday. Johnson feels confident that his continually improving squad can play its team game with anyone

“It’s a case of everyone working for each other, understanding their roles and sacrificing a little bit of personal glory to keep us in matches,” Johnson said. “I’m very pleased with where we are right now and looking forward to getting the full complement of players in.”

Pino, Olsson pace golfers

The Lawrence golf squad completed its fall season with a solid sixth-place finish at the Wisconsin Lutheran Invitational on Monday, and the Vikings could have a pair of all-conference performers on the squad.

Sophomore Anton Olsson was the team’s top player a season ago and finished 18th at the MWC Championships. Olsson had a stroke average of 81.5 last season, but he has improved his game. Olsson’s average stands at 77.0 after the fall campaign. The Vikings have added another top player in freshman Rudi Pino, who averaged 76.0 in five rounds this fall.

Both Olsson and Pino trade in their clubs for skates in October as both are members of Lawrence’s hockey team.

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.

Newsom’s goal lifts Vikings to overtime victory

Oliver Newsom’s goal in the 95th minute lifted the Lawrence University men’s soccer team to a 1-0 overtime victory over Wisconsin Lutheran College in a nonconference match on Monday at Whiting Field West.

The Vikings’ David Caprile took a free kick from about 40 yards out and sent it past the far post. Dan O’Mahoney headed it back toward the goal mouth, and Newsom was there to stuff it past Wisconsin Lutheran keeper Jon Stewart at the 94:48 mark.

It was the first goal of the season for Newsom.

Kevin Aslett made five saves for Lawrence (4-4-1) to pick up his second shutout of the season. Stewart made six saves for Wisconsin Lutheran (6-4-0).

It was the first time Wisconsin Lutheran had played at Lawrence since Oct. 20, 2002, and that was a 1-0 overtime victory for Lawrence when Adam Miner scored in the 106th minute for the Vikings.

Box score

Pino, Olsson post top-five finishes at Wisconsin Lutheran Invitational

HARTFORD, Wis. — Rudi Pino and Anton Olsson both posted top-five finishes to lead the Lawrence University golf team at the Wisconsin Lutheran College Invitational on Monday.

Pino finished tied for third after carding a round of 76 on Monday. Pino shot an opening-round 73 on Sunday and finished with a 36-hole total of 149 on the par-72 layout at Washington County Golf Course.

Olsson tied for fifth place after carding a second consecutive round of 76 on Monday. He had a 36-hole total of 152.

Sean Esenberg of Wisconsin Lutheran won the tournament with a score of 143 with rounds of 71 and 72.

Lawrence finished sixth in the team standings with a total of 651. Carthage College won the team title with a score of 614.

Results

Inside LU Athletics: Barthelmess rides wave of emotion with his family, team

Mike Barthelmess rode an emotional rollercoaster last weekend where the valley must have felt as deep as the Grand Canyon and the peak was like Mount Everest.

The first-year Lawrence University head football coach went from the low of seeing his youngest son injured while playing high school football on Friday night to the high of watching his Vikings dismantle Beloit College on Saturday evening for his first victory at Lawrence.

Barthelmess went to Paul Engen Field on Appleton’s north side last Friday to watch Isaac Barthelmess, a star running back for Appleton North, and his teammates take on Wausau West. The Barthelmess’ were at the game with several family members who were visiting Appleton for the weekend to watch Isaac and his older brother, Luke, Lawrence’s star quarterback, play.

Isaac had already scored a touchdown, his seventh of the young season, when he caught a pass in the second quarter.

“Isaac was spinning to try and get away from the tackle and another guy hits him the in the leg and he goes down,” Barthelmess said. “He’s not getting up and he’s not getting up. You could tell it was serious, and I thought it was his knee.”

The officials immediately waved the medical staff on the field, and the Barthelmess family followed. Isaac had broken both the fibula and tibia in the same leg.

“Luke was amazing. He was whispering in Isaac’s ear and holding his hand,” said Barthelmess, who waited in agony along with his injured son for the ambulance to arrive. “We had to just calm Isaac down, but the whole world is watching and it’s dead silent. It was kind of a feeling like you were in shock.”

Isaac was transported to Appleton Medical Center, and Barthelmess praised the staff for easing his son’s pain and preparing him for the surgery that would come Saturday morning. Barthelmess’ wife, Becky, stayed at the hospital overnight, and Barthelmess returned to an empty house.

“I slept in Isaac’s bed,” said Barthelmess, who added that he couldn’t help but think of his son’s football future. “All this preparation, all this work, and it’s over. As a parent, you feel that but you don’t want to go there because you want to be strong for him.”

Barthelmess went back to Appleton Medical Center in the morning, and Isaac spent nearly three hours in surgery.

“I was praying and keeping good thoughts for Isaac,” said Barthelmess, who added that the procedure went well. “I stayed long enough to say hello to Isaac and then went off to the game.”

The coach said his pregame speech to the players talked about appreciating the game and the opportunities presented to them.

“My mind was at our football game when it had to be,” Barthelmess said. “My mind was on Isaac for the most part, to be honest with you. The coordinators did a great job.”

One Lawrence player who also was focused on Isaac was his big brother, Luke.

“Luke had 22 (Isaac’s number) on his wristbands and the initials ICB. I knew he was going to be on a mission,” Barthelmess said. “His running style Saturday night was very different. He was running for his brother. He was looking for people to hit. He was definitely on a mission.”

Luke finished with 12 carries for 74 yards in Lawrence’s 38-14 drubbing of Beloit. He also completed 19 of 30 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns.

Barthelmess got doused with ice water from the cooler in the final seconds of the Vikings’ victory, but he said the best part of the evening came after the final whistle when the players surrounded their coach.

“The joy for me was standing in front of those guys and looking at the expressions on their faces,” Barthelmess said. “On Saturday night after they experienced such great success, it was seeing their faces and knowing for them that all this work, all this trust, all this faith, pays off.”

Stevens runs down honor

Lawrence cross country standout Sam Stevens has been named the Midwest Conference Performer of the Week.

Stevens, a junior from Suamico, Wis., won the award after finishing second at the UW-Whitewater Invitational this past Saturday. Stevens covered the 8,000-meter course in 26:19 and led Lawrence to a fourth-place finish in the team standings.

This is the third time Stevens has been named the MWC Performer of the Week. Stevens, the defending individual conference champion, captured the award twice during the 2011 season.

Burke, Muchowski sweep MWC awards

The Lawrence women’s soccer team swept the Midwest Conference Player of the Week awards.

Senior goalkeeper Cassie Burke was named the Defensive Player of the Week and sophomore forward Keli Muchowski was selected as the Offensive Player of the Week.

Burke had 160 shutout minutes as Lawrence went 2-0 on the week. Burke recorded 10 saves in a 3-0 victory over Illinois College last Saturday. She also picked up an assist on Muchowski’s goal in the 15th minute. Burke also played the first 70 minutes, made one save and didn’t allow a goal in Lawrence’s 4-1 victory over Knox College on Sunday.

Muchowski scored three goals and picked up an assist in Lawrence’s two games last week. Muchowski scored a pair of goals against Illinois College and had a goal and an assist against Knox.

Muchowski leads the team with four goals and nine points.

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.

 

Stevens runs down MWC Performer of the Week award

Lawrence University cross country standout Sam Stevens has been named the Midwest Conference Performer of the Week.

Stevens (Suamico, Wis./Bay Port) won the award after finishing second at the UW-Whitewater Invitational this past Saturday. Stevens covered the 8,000-meter course in 26:19 and led Lawrence to a fourth-place finish in the team standings.

This is the third time Stevens has been named the MWC Performer of the Week. Stevens, the defending individual conference champion, captured the award twice during the 2011 season.

Lawrence returns to action on Sept. 29 when it competes in the Roy Griak Invitational at the University of Minnesota.

 

 

Burke, Muchowski sweep MWC Player of the Week honors

The Lawrence University women’s soccer team swept the Midwest Conference Player of the Week awards on Monday.

Senior goalkeeper Cassie Burke (Golden Valley, Minn./Hopkins) was named the Defensive Player of the Week and sophomore forward Keli Muchowski (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) was selected as the Offensive Player of the Week.

Burke had 160 shutout minutes as Lawrence went 2-0 on the week. Burke recorded 10 saves in a 3-0 victory over Illinois College on Sept. 15. She also picked up an assist on Muchowski’s goal in the 15th minute. Burke also played the first 70 minutes, made one save and didn’t allow a goal in Lawrence’s 4-1 victory over Knox College on Sept. 16.

For the week, Burke was 2-0 with a 0.00 goals against average and 1.000 save percentage. On the season, Burke has a 1.33 goals against average and .868 save percentage.

Muchowski scored three goals and picked up an assist in Lawrence’s two games last week. In the 3-0 victory over Illinois College, Muchowski scored a pair of goals. She scored in the 15th minute to give Lawrence a 2-0 lead and sealed the victory with a goal in the 75th minute.

In the 4-1 victory over Knox, Muchowski scored in the 19th minute to put the Vikings up 1-0 and then assisted on Anne Leung’s goal in the 55th minute.

On the season, Muchowski leads the team with four goals and nine points.

Lawrence is now 3-4-0 on the season (2-0-0 in Midwest Conference play) and returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Lake Forest College.

Lawrence uses big second half to run past Prairie Fire

Three Lawrence University women’s soccer players had a goal and an assist as the Vikings defeated Knox College 4-1 in a Midwest Conference game on Sunday at Whiting Field West.

Keli Muchowski, Anne Leung and Liza Girsova all had a goal and an assist for Lawrence (3-4-0, 2-0-0 MWC). Jennifer Angeli also scored for the Vikings.

Muchowski gave Lawrence a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute and the score stayed that way until the half. The Vikings scored early and often in the second half to put the game away.

Angeli gave Lawrence a 2-0 lead at 49:53 when she scored off a pass from Amanda Ollerer. Lawrence made it 3-0 at 54:20 when Leung scored her first career goal off assists from Girsova and Muchowski.

The Vikings then made it 4-0 on Girsova’s first career goal at 63:56.

Cassie Burke played the first 70 minutes and made one save to pick up the victory. Rachael Koene made 13 saves and took the loss for Knox (0-5-0, 0-2-0).

Box score

Vikings cruise to victory over Beloit

The Lawrence University football team jumped out to a 24-0 lead and cruised to a 38-14 Midwest Conference victory over Beloit College on Saturday in the Banta Bowl.

It was the first victory at Lawrence (1-2, 1-2 MWC) for first-year head coach Mike Barthelmess.

Junior quarterback Luke Barthelmess was 19 of 30 passing for 277 yards and three touchdowns. Barthelmess also ran 12 times for 74 yards. Running back Ben Hartman had seven carries for a team-high 90 yards, and included in that total was a 54-yard touchdown run.

Running back Zach Draus paced Beloit (0-3, 0-2) with 19 carries for 139 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Will Coyne was 14 of 29 passing for 164 yards and two interceptions.

Lawrence led 3-0 early when the Vikings moved 76 yards in nine plays for the first touchdown of the afternoon. Barthelmess hit Tyler Mazur on a 16-yard scoring strike for a 10-0 lead. Mazur caught four passes for 98 yards.

The Vikings made it 17-0 with 3:33 left in the first half when Scott Vandeloo took advantage of the perfect play call. Beloit called an all-out blitz, and Lawrence countered with a screen pass. Vandeloo went untouched 36 yards for the touchdown.

Lawrence got the ball back with 2:14 left in the opening half and moved 70 yards in just three plays for the touchdown. Barthelmess hit Dominique Dirden, who caught eight passes for 71 yards, for 21 yards and a Beloit penalty moved the ball to the Bucs’ 29-yard line. Barthelmess found Dan Dubnicka on the next play for a 29-yard touchdown catch and Lawrence led 24-0.

The Bucs took advantage of an interception to cut the lead to 24-6 at the half, but Lawrence got a two-yard touchdown run from Vandeloo and a 54-yard scoring scamper from Hartman in the second half to seal the win.

Lawrence, which piled up 492 yards of offense, also forced three turnovers. Sam Wagner forced and recovered the same fumble, and Brandon Taylor and Colt Duncan had interceptions for the Vikings. Marcus Moore piled up a game-high 12 tackles for Lawrence.

The Vikings have a bye next Saturday and return to action on Sept. 29 when they travel to Illinois College.

Box score

Stevens grabs second to pace Vikings at UW-Whitewater Invitational

WHITEWATER, Wis. — Sam Stevens raced to second place to pace the Lawrence University cross country teams on Saturday at the UW-Whitewater Invitational.

Stevens covered the 8,000-meter course in 26:19 to take second behind UW-Oshkosh’s John Dewitt, who posted a winning time of 26:06. Paced by Stevens, Lawrence took fourth place in the team standings with 96 points.

On the women’s side, freshman Clare Bruning led the Vikings by finishing 14th in 24:31. Lawrence finished seventh in the team standings with 170 points.

Men’s results

Women’s results