The men’s hockey team headed to Northland College in Ashland, Wis. to take on the LumberJacks this past weekend. The Vikes swept the LumberJacks in a two-game series.
Friday night, in an offensive showcase, the Vikings scored six goals in the win. Sophomore Billy Siers opened the scoring at 7:02 into the period, with an assist to senior Neil Wallace.
Northland responded with a power-play goal at 9:31 off a holding call. Lawrence would add their own power-play tally at 15:23, when freshman Josh DeSmit scored with assists to senior Josh Peterson and freshman Matt Jacobs.
The second period began with a power-play goal at 7:08 of the period by junior Nick Jennette with assists to Siers and sophomore Marc Howe. Northland responded with a power-play goal at 10:36, but 23 seconds later Howe scored, with assists to DeSmit and junior Austin Montgomery, to take a 4-2 lead into the third period.
In the third period, the LumberJacks opened the scoring with an even-strength goal at 7:34 into the period. Jennette added an even-strength tally at 15:20 with assists to Howe and DeSmit. Howe ended the scoring at 18:35, and Jennette assisted, giving the Vikings a 6-3 win.
Freshman Evan Johnson made 15 saves on the night, while Daniel McIntosh of the LumberJacks made 46.
Saturday night Lawrence took on the beleaguered LumberJacks, winning convincingly 5-0. The game remained scoreless until freshman Pat Brenner found Howe on the penalty kill and Howe found the twine at 17:44.
Sophomore Masa Takahashi added to the lead at 19:32 with a power-play goal, with junior Mike Ackley and Peterson assisting. The second period saw the Vikings extend their lead with a goal by Brenner, assisted by Jacobs and freshman Corey Garrett.
In the third period, Howe added an unassisted short-handed goal at 12:48, and DeSmit added a power-play goal at 17:15 of the period, with Ackley and Peterson assisting.
Captain Peterson commented, “It was like an old street hockey game where you asked your buddies to stay for one more and then nobody tries. [Northland] just didn’t want to be there.”
Unbeaten in their last five games, Lawrence seems to be hitting their stride just at the right time. The Vikes head to Hancock, Mich. to take on Finlandia University in a series of games this weekend.
Only one point behind MSOE for fourth place in the MCHA, Lawrence still has a chance at home ice in the first round of the playoffs. Lawrence needs the outright lead because MSOE controls in the case of a tie, with more goals scored.
Hockey picks up two wins against Northland College
