(Paul Wilke)
The Lawrence University men’s
hockey team swept the openinground
series against the Northland
College Lumberjacks and advances
to play top-seeded Adrian College
in the semifinals.
The Vikings jumped on the
Lumberjacks early, winning the
first game 5-1. Lawrence established
that their late-season struggles
were a thing of the past as
they scored three times in the
second period and had goals from
five different players.
The Vikings were 1-8-1 in their
previous 10 games, with their lone
win in that stretch coming against
Northland, but the Vikings let it
be known that they should not
be taken lightly in the playoffs.
Jameson Raymond, who scored for
the Vikings, said afterwards, “We
didn’t come this far just to roll
over. We fully expect to win every
game from here on out.”
The Vikings’ confidence
showed again in the second game
of the series.
Despite falling behind 1-0
early, Lawrence showed their poise
and tied the game halfway through
the first period. Marc Howe scored
the tying goal, which was his 19th
of the season, topping the previous
record set by three former
Vikings.
Lawrence scored the next three
goals as well to take a 4-1 lead.
Northland countered with a goal
of their own to cut the Vikings’
lead to two, but they would get
no closer. The two teams traded
goals in the later parts of the third
period, and Lawrence went on to
a 5-3 victory and a berth in the
Harris Cup Final Four.
Goaltender Evan Johnson, who
saved 20 shots in the victory, feels
confident heading into the upcoming
weekend: “I think we have
learned a lot about ourselves over
the season and we are hitting our
stride at the right time.”
The Vikings play heavilyfavored
Adrian on Friday. The winner
will advance to the championship
game to face the winner of
the other semifinal game between
Marian and Lake Forest.
(Paul Wilke)