While most of Lawrence’s student body has been acclimating to the winter, there is a small group that has been thriving on it. Lawrence University’s Hockey team has started winter term off on the right foot with a pair of strong showings.
The hockey team has stayed busy over break, appearing in seven games since Thanksgiving. While there have been wins and losses, overall the hockey team has been performing well coming into winter term. Even when facing St. Norbert’s, one of the best Hockey teams in NCAA division three, the Vikings lost by only one goal, and only allowed three to be scored. While a loss is a loss, being able to hang with the best is a feat all the same.
Since term began, the Hockey team has played two games. On January 5, the team took the ice against MSOE in an away game, their first game of the new year. The game started out slowly, with neither team scoring in the first period of the game. To make up for this, the Vikings scored a goal early in the second to reinvigorate the game. MSOE responded with one, but could not hold the Vikings, who scored a second late in the period to retake the lead. In the third, Lawrence scored a final goal with only 3 seconds of play remaining to seal the victory.
Returning to the ice a day later, the Vikings next trial came against Concordia on January 6. The game started quickly, with Lawrence scoring three unanswered goals in the first quarter. Unfortunately, this would prove to be the last time the Vikings scored in the game. Concordia came alive in the second two periods, scoring 2 goals in the second and a third in the third to bring the game to a 3-3 tie at the end of regular play. In overtime, Concordia managed to slip a fourth and final goal past the Vikings to win the game.
While a win and a loss are not the ideal way to start the winter, Lawrence is still poised for an exciting end to the season. The season is far from over, with 6 games left in January, and 4 in February. Lawrence will next appear against Finlandia on Friday Jan. 12 at Finlandia. Before coming home, The Vikings will also again face St. Norbert’s, to hopefully earn retribution for their last meeting. The Viking’s next home appearances will be on Jan. 19 and 20, against Aurora and Lake Forest respectively.
