The Lawrence University hockey team hits the road this weekend for a Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association series at Northland College. The puck drops at 7 p.m. on Friday and the series wraps up with a 3 p.m. game on Saturday.
Inside LU Athletics: Vikings look to continue team building
Lawrence University women’s basketball coach Tara Carr could exchange her whistle for a hard hat because she is trying to build the Vikings into something special.
As Carr embarks on her second season with the Vikings, she wants to improve the team’s record and bring this group of young women together.
“We have five new freshmen and team unity is No. 1,” Carr said. “Everything we do is talking about team.”
The Vikings return seven players, including four starters from a season ago when Lawrence won just one game. Lawrence does have a group of talented newcomers, led by local prep standout Katie Schumacher.
“We want to improve, but we have a lot of new faces and that takes some time,” Carr said.
The Vikings also had four players participating in a fall sport, and senior Cathy Kaye is studying in Italy and will not return to the team until after Thanksgiving.
“Despite that, the relationships and the bonding have already happened. For me, that’s what it’s about,” Carr said. “Watching it, it’s been a great experience. It’s hard to explain, but this year’s team feels different.
“When they feel good, they play good,” Carr added with a smile. “It’s important for me as a coach to create an environment that stays positive and remains focused on the team.”
The Vikings will build their attack around junior guards Alex Deshler and Amber Lisowe, who missed her entire freshman season due to injury. Lisowe led the team in scoring last season at 12.0 points per game, and Deshler also averaged in double figures at 10.2 points per game. Deshler also is the top returning rebounder after averaging 6.9 boards per game last season.
“Amber and Alex really need to play well for the team to play well. They need to contribute double figures in scoring and rebounding numbers. They must impact the game for us to be successful,” Carr said.
“Alex’s basketball IQ is just amazing. Her internal competitive edge is like no other. That kid wants to win and she is clutch. I think Amber is more of the glue of the team. She does that on and off the court.”
Junior guard Jessica Robbins also returns, and Carr looks to Robbins’ quickness to give the Vikings a spark.
“That kid is so quick,” Carr said of Robbins. “Her defensive skill set is amazing. We’ve challenged her to be more of a consistent offensive threat. We’re hoping her defensive ability will lead to more on the offensive end.”
Kaye averaged 7.1 points per game last season and is joined by sophomore Kassidy Rinehart, a former star at Hortonville who started 17 games as a freshman.
Schumacher heads the list of five newcomers who bring size (all are forwards and average 5-foot-10) and a clean slate to the program.
“The nice thing is when you get new players, they don’t know about the past. They know what they’ve read, and we talk about where we’re headed and where we’ve been,” said Carr, who added the newcomers know what is expected of them.
“The expectation is you need to come in an contribute right now. That is something we have emphasized since day one.”
Rowland honored
Junior defensive specialist Kathleen Rowland has been named to the all-Midwest Conference volleyball team.
Rowland, who was chosen for the second consecutive season, was selected for the second team. Rowland led the team with 475 digs and averaged 5.52 per set. She also chipped in with 13 service aces on the season.
Record falls
Quarterback Luke Barthelmess is Lawrence’s career passing yards leader after breaking All-American Jim Petran’s record last Saturday. Barthelmess, the son of head football coach Mike Barthelmess, now has 5,738 yards in two seasons as the starter. Petran’s record of 5,431 had stood since 1979.
Mazur tops two grand
Standout wide receiver Tyler Mazur is just the sixth receiver to post 2,000 career receiving yards after passing the mark last Saturday at Knox. Mazur posted his third consecutive 100-yard receiving game of the season last Saturday and now has 2,031 yards for his career. He is just 31 yards from passing All-American Pat Schwanke for fifth place on the career list.
Game of the Week
Lawrence and Ripon renew the oldest college football rivalry in the state on Saturday when the Vikings host the Red Hawks in the season finale at the Banta Bowl. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. with the Doehling-Heselton Memorial Trophy at stake. This is the 112th meeting between the teams, which makes it the 14th-longest rivalry in NCAA Division III.
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.
Rowland named to all-conference volleyball team again
Lawrence University volleyball standout Kathleen Rowland has been named to the All-Midwest Conference volleyball team for the second consecutive season.
Rowland (Champaign, Ill./Central), a junior defensive specialist, was a second-team selection. She also was chosen for the second team in 2011.
Rowland led the Vikings at 5.52 digs per set and also contributed 20 assists and 13 aces on the season. Rowland was the heart of Lawrence’s back line and was the only player to record more than 30 digs in a match this season. Rowland had four matches with 30-plus digs, and turned in a season-high 37 digs in a victory over the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
Lawrence finished with an 8-17 overall record and a 2-8 mark in Midwest Conference play.
Lawrence vs. Ripon preview
The Lawrence University football team wraps up its season on Saturday when its hosts rival Ripon College. This is the oldest college football rivalry in the state of Wisconsin and the 14th-oldest rivalry in all of NCAA Division III football. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in the Banta Bowl.
Flack, Winter pace Vikings at UWRF
RIVER FALLS, Wis. — Evan Flack and Taylor Winter both won a pair of events to pace the Lawrence University swim teams on Saturday at UW-River Falls.
The Falcons topped the Vikings 54-51 in the men’s meet, and River Falls defeated Lawrence 62-40 in the women’s meet.
Flack won the 50-yard freestyle in 22.91 seconds and took first in the 100 freestyle in 50.01.
Winter won the 1,650 freestyle in 18:39.84 and grabbed first in the 500 freestyle in 5:32.26.
Turnovers, Mortensen send Vikings to defeat at Knox
GALESBURG, Ill. — Knox College’s Derek Mortensen ran for 203 yards and six touchdowns, and the Lawrence University football team turned the ball over five times in a 63-42 Midwest Conference loss on Saturday at the Knosher Bowl.
Lawrence (2-7, 2-6 MWC) lost despite have more total yards (583-520), running 30 more plays and owning a 7:05 advantage in time of possession over the Prairie Fire (2-7, 2-6).
Lawrence quarterback Luke Barthelmess completed 27 of 50 passes for 386 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Barthelmess broke Jim Petran’s career passing yards record of 5,431 yards and the junior quarterback now has 5,738 yards for his career.
Dominique Dirden caught 11 passes for 184 yards for the Vikings, and Tyler Mazur grabbed eight passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Mazur became just the sixth receiver in Lawrence history to pass 2,000 career receiving yards and now has 2,031. Senior running back Ben Hartman carried only nine times but had 89 yards for an impressive 9.9-yard average.
Knox built a 21-14 halftime lead with the help of four Lawrence turnovers in the first half. The Prairie Fire took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove 52 yards for a touchdown and a 28-14 edge.
Another turnover gave Knox the ball back at the Lawrence 16-yard line, and Mortensen scored two plays later for a 35-14 lead.
The Vikings, who recovered three Knox fumbles on the afternoon, then failed to convert a fourth-and-1 at their own 34-yard line, and Knox took over on downs. Knox scored two plays later and led 42-14. Lawrence’s next drive ended on downs at the Knox 31, and the Prairie Fire drove for another score and a 49-14 lead.
Barthelmess than ran eight yards for a touchdown and threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Mandich to trim the lead to 49-28 after three quarters.
Knox then hit on an 85-yard touchdown pass to crush any hope of a Lawrence comeback. Barthelmess ran for another touchdown and threw a touchdown pass to Mazur in the final quarter.
Falcons rally to top Lawrence
The Concordia (Wis.) University hockey team rallied for three goals in the third period and posted a 3-2 Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association win over Lawrence University on Saturday night at the Appleton Family Ice Center.
Lawrence (0-2-0, 0-2-0 MCHA) led 1-0 after Brad Scurfield’s power-play goal at the 12:35 mark of the second period.
Concordia (2-3-0, 2-2-0) evened the score at 1-1 on Franco Loparco’s goal just 1:47 into the third period. The Falcons struck again with a power-play goal from Devin Stuermer at 3:34 to take a 2-1 advantage.
The Vikings came back to tie it at 2-2 on Phil Bushbacher’s goal at 13:50, but the Falcons took advantage of a power play to regain the lead. Dan Schilts scored on the man-advantage at 15:15 to give Concordia a 3-2 edge.
Concordia was on the power play again in the final minute when the Vikings pulled goaltender Peter Emery for an extra skater, but Lawrence couldn’t get the equalizer.
Emery made 26 saves and took the loss. Jake Hebda made 29 saves for the victory.
Vikings edged by Concordia in season opener
MEQUON, Wis. — The Lawrence University hockey team opened its season on Friday night with a 3-2 Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association loss to Concordia (Wis.) University at the Ozaukee Ice Center.
Lawrence fell behind in the first 30 seconds of the contest and were never able to overtake the Falcons (1-3-0, 1-2-0 MCHA).
Concordia scored just 24 seconds into the game on Devin Stuermer’s unassisted goal. Huck Saunders scored on the power play for the Vikings to tie the game at 1-1 just 7:35 into the first period.
Kevin Michaelcavage countered with a power-play goal for Concordia early in the second period, and the score stayed that way until Travis Payne scored at the 15:12 mark of the third for a 3-1 lead.
Brandon Boelter got his first collegiate goal for Lawrence just 46 seconds later off a pass from Brad Scurfield to trim the lead to 3-2, but that’s as close as the Vikings would get.
Goaltender Jake Hebda made 31 saves to earn the win, and Peter Emery stopped 30 shots for the Vikings and took the loss.
Inside LU Athletics: Football team fights back with road victory
The last month had been rough on the Lawrence University football team.
Facing the Midwest Conference’s powerhouse teams in four consecutive weeks, the Vikings got beaten up pretty good.
Rather than packing it in for the final three weeks, Lawrence fought back by going on the road and handing out some punishment of its own. The Vikings beat Grinnell College 24-14 last Saturday and are looking to build on that success.
“We had the big four weeks where we were going up against Goliath every week,” Lawrence head coach Mike Barthelmess said. “When our guys get the opportunity to play against a like team, I feel like we are going to do well.
“I feel so strongly that when we do decide to show up and play, we can compete with anyone in the conference. We have the same opportunity this week.”
Lawrence (2-6, 2-5 MWC) travels to Knox College (1-7, 1-6) to face a vastly improved Prairie Fire squad on Saturday.
“Knox is so much better than last year, and they run the ball extremely well,” Barthelmess said. “Fortunately, our defense is starting to get better at the right time. The players are working hard and (defensive coordinator Jason Anderson and defensive assistant Rich Agness) are making the right adjustments.”
The Vikings defense allowed the fewest points (14) last Saturday since they gave up 12 to Knox back in 2010. They also allowed a season-low 268 yards, and Grinnell picked up 107 of those yards on just two plays.
Barthelmess said the defensive coaches left the calls to the players on the field, and that fits with his philosophy of the team taking ownership in the program.
“They (Anderson and Agness) train them all week as to what calls to make, and then they leave it to the guys to do that,” Barthelmess said. “You’ve got a defensive group that are starting to buy into a system that is much different than what they’ve had in the past.”
The Vikings also took a big step forward when Grinnell challenged Lawrence in the second half. Lawrence led 17-0 at the half, just like they did back in 2010. Two seasons ago, Grinnell came back and won 31-17. That didn’t happen last week after Grinnell scored on the opening possession of the second half.
“When we went into halftime this weekend, I was just crazed. I was bound and determined not to let that happen again,” Barthelmess said. “We had the 98-yard drive, and that was huge. That made a statement to Grinnell and ourselves that we were not going to let down.”
Lawrence answered the Grinnell score with a 13-play, 98-yard touchdown drive to go up 24-7. Grinnell got a 68-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter to close within 10, but the Vikings dominated the rest of the game to close out the victory.
“I see potential in these guys. I see potential in these guys that they don’t see. When these things happen, it may surprise them but it doesn’t me,” Barthelmess said.
“I’ve been placed in this position to show these guys what they can be. If I can do that, then I’m doing my job.”
Numbers game
Senior football player Tyler Mazur has put together some eye-popping numbers in only two seasons as a wide receiver. Mazur, who came to Lawrence as a sophomore, played quarterback during his first season with the Vikings.
That hasn’t stopped him from amassing 116 catches for 1,927 yards and 20 touchdowns. Mazur is poised to be just the sixth receiver in Lawrence history to reach 2,000 receiving yards. He currently ranks sixth in Lawrence history in catches, seventh in receiving yards and fourth in total touchdowns.
Record set to fall
Junior quarterback Luke Barthelmess is set to break Lawrence’s career passing yards record, which has stood since 1979. Barthlemess has 5,352 yards, just 80 short of breaking the record of 5,431 established by All-America quarterback Jim Petran from 1976-79.
Dropping the puck
The Lawrence hockey team drops the puck on its home season Saturday night at the Appleton Family Ice Center when the Vikings host Concordia (Wis.) University. The Vikings play their season opener at Concordia on Friday night.
Lawrence vs. Concordia (Wis.) preview
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.