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The Week in Review…
MIAC Women’s Cross Country Championship Recap - Carleton, ranked 20th nationally, claimed the 2009 MIAC Women's Cross Country Championship. It was the Knight’s first MIAC crown since 2005 after finishing second twice and third once over the previous three years. With three Carleton runners finishing among the top eight finishers, the Knights posted 65 points and won conference title in convincing fashion over Bethel (91 pts) and St. Thomas (94) in second and third place respectively. St. Olaf had 98 points and placed fourth, while Hamline came in fifth place with 125 points. Bethel senior Marie Borner won her third straight women’s individual championship with a time of 21:43. However Carleton sophomores Simone Childs-Walker (22:15.9), and Taylor Fitch (22:56.50) finished in second and fifth place respectively, while senior Laura Roach (23:12) came in eighth place for the Knights. The top five individual racers were rounded out by Hamline senior Margot Branigan (22:37.2) who raced to a third place finish, and St. Catherine senior Greta Sieve (22:54.2) who came in fourth place. Senior Erin Lowrey from Macalester and Kelly Russ of St. Thomas were the only four-time All-Conference honorees from this year’s championships.
MIAC Men’s Cross Country Championship Recap - Hamline won its fifth men's team title and second since 2005 at the 2009 Championships on Saturday. St. Olaf’s 66 points were good for second behind the Pipers’ 61. St. Thomas was third, followed by Augsburg and Saint John's. Individually, Bethel senior Dan Greeno won the men's eight-kilometer race with a time of 25:21. Senior Ian Bauer led Hamline with a second-place finish, 34 seconds behind Greeno. St. Thomas sophomore Ben Sathre was third, with St. Olaf’s Jacob Marotz in fourth, and Macalester’s Wade Ekstrom in fifth.
MIAC Hockey Showcase Wrap-Up – The inaugural MIAC Hockey Showcase wrapped up after a successful weekend of nine games total, three each day, at the Bloomington Ice Gardens. St. Olaf and Augsburg came away with perfect 2-0 records, followed by St. Thomas and Saint John’s whom each finished 1-0-1 after they battled to a 1-1 tie on Sunday night. Hamline and Gustavus finished 1-1 apiece. St. Olaf is off to its first 2-0-0 start since the 1992-93 season. The Auggies opened with a 4-0 win over Bethel on Friday, then scored a 5-3 win over defending national runner-up Gustavus on Sunday. Each MIAC team played two non-conference games during the event.
Top Soccer Scholars - Eight MIAC men's soccer players and six MIAC women's soccer players earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honors, it was announced recently. The ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District team is part of the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America program, administered by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Top student-athletes from non-Division I programs in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ontario, and Manitoba are eligible for inclusion on the district team. Student-athletes must have a grade-point average above 3.30 (4.0 scale) and have outstanding athletic credentials. College sports information directors in the district vote for the teams. First-team Academic All-District members advance to the Academic All-America ballot, voted on by a committee of CoSIDA members. The ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America soccer teams will be announced on Nov. 17-18. The men's soccer first team included: Sean Kennedy, St. Thomas midfielder; Alex Hildebrandt, Augsburg defender; Ross Hamilton, Carleton defender, Elliot Amundson, St. Thomas forward. Men's soccer second team were: Mads Schmidt, Concordia goalkeeper; Marco Riboli, Concordia midfielder; Robert Carlton, Carleton defender; Tim Wills, Carleton forward. Women's soccer first team included: Alison Dittmer, Gustavus defender; Erika Swenson, Concordia defender; Whitney Holman, Augsburg defender; Samantha Johnson, Concordia forward. Named to the women's soccer third team were: Tess Hanson, St. Thomas defender; Kelsey Speer, Macalester defender.
Twice is Nice - In a rare feat at any level of football, St. Thomas' Fritz Waldvogel returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown for the second game in a row on Saturday to start the Toms off well in a 42-3 win. After last week's 74-yard TD against Carleton, the sophomore dashed 87 yards to the end zone on Saturday's first play. The MIAC had gone 171 games without an opening kickoff returned to the end zone before last week. Waldvogel now has seven kickoff or punt returns of 55 yards or longer in his last 12 games, including five for touchdowns. His four return touchdowns lead Division III and he ranks among the Division III elite as he's averaging 32.9 yards on kickoff returns and 14.9 yards on punt returns. St. Thomas moved to 7-1 overall and climbed five spots to 10th in the national rankings.
TomTom Guides the Way - A blistering final week of the season by forward Niki Tomita (So./Redwood City, Calif./Woodside), helped steer the Carleton women’s soccer team into the MIAC Playoffs for the second consecutive year. Tomita—whose nickname is TomTom—scored six goals in three games over the final week of the season, including a hat trick in a come-from-behind 3-1 win at St. Catherine University last Wednesday. Carleton then needed a 2-1 win over rival St. Olaf in the regular-season finale to advance to the playoffs, with Tomita being credited with the game-winning goal in the 85th minute. After a slow 1-4-1 start to the season, the Knights underwent a dramatic turn around, going 8-1-3 since Sept. 19. Carleton, which is ranked No. 7 in the NSCAA regional ranks released today, faces national No. 7 Concordia College in the MIAC Playoff semifinals, with the Knights being the lone team not to lose to Concordia (16-0-1 overall) this season. To top off an impressive week, Tomita earned MIAC Athlete of the Week honors for her performances.
You’ll Get Nothing and Like It - The Concordia-Moorhead men’s soccer team did not allow a goal in the last eight games of the season. It is a streak that covers 758:39 and is the third longest streak in MIAC men’s soccer history. The Cobbers also went unbeaten in their last 10 games to finish the season with an 11-6-1 record. The 11 overall wins are the most for the Cobbers since the 2001 season.
Passing of a Legend - Hamline mourns the loss of a basketball and baseball legend with the passing of Howie Schultz '45 on Friday morning at age 87 following a four-month battle with cancer. Schultz was an All-American member of Hamline’s first national championship basketball team in 1942 and went on to win two NBA championships with the Minneapolis Lakers (1952, 1953) in addition to playing professional baseball. He made his major league debut on August 16, 1943 with the Dodgers and remained the Dodgers’ starting first baseman until 1947 when Jackie Robinson took over the role on opening day.
Hamline Coach Resigns - Lynette Bernardy has resigned her position as Hamline’s head volleyball coach to join her family in Iowa, Hamline director of athletics Bob Beeman announced on Tuesday. Bernardy, who has been the Pipers’ head coach for the past three seasons, is leaving Hamline to join her husband, Brad, at their home in Iowa. Bernardy posted a 37-36 overall record at the helm of the Pipers, leading her team to .500 or better seasons each of her three years. Prior to taking over at Hamline, she served as the head volleyball coach at Bethany Lutheran College for twelve seasons from 1991-2002 and the head softball coach from 1991-2001. In her first season overseeing the Piper volleyball program, Bernardy led the team to a sixth place MIAC tournament seed and set nine new school records for team statistics, including total kills in a season (1383), kills per game (14.41), total digs in a season (2073) and digs per game (21.59).
Pick Six - Tim Cornish of the Bethel University football team (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) helped Bethel seal a 33-21 win over Gustavus with an interception he returned 25 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter last Saturday. It was his second interception of the game, and his sixth of the season, which surpasses his total from last year. He now has 15 interceptions in his career, and four of them have been returned for touchdowns.
Sam I Am - Concordia-Moorhead junior women’s soccer player Sam Johnson (Fargo, N.D./Fargo North HS) finished the regular season with 20 goals and three assists for 43 points. She led the MIAC in goals and points scored and scored at least one goal in 10 consecutive games. Johnson currently has 90 career points and is on the verge of becoming the fourth player in program history to achieve the historic 100-point milestone. She also helped Concordia claim their third MIAC regular season title in the past four years.
A Sticky Fundraiser - Thanks to the generosity of students, fans, and other donors, the Bethel women's volleyball team raised more than $1,000 for the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery last Friday during their game against Augsburg. The team raised the funds by taking donations in the form of votes for the Bethel faculty member fans would most like to see duct taped to the wall. Head men's basketball coach Jeff Westlund was the lucky (or unlucky) faculty member to be taped to the wall during the entire third set of Bethel's 3-2 win over Augsburg. Nearly 8,000 children were abused and neglected in Minnesota last year. Thirty-four sustained life-threatening injuries and 14 died. The Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery works to end child abuse and neglect and create strong, healthy families by offering a warm, loving, and safe place where kids get to be kids while their parents take care of a family emergency. The Nursery gives parents a supportive, safe, and non-shaming environment in which to ask for help.
Golden Gustie Golf - The Gustavus women's golf team is ranked #4 in the most recent Division III poll released by the National Golf Coaches Association. The Gusties have been rated in the Top Ten in every NGCA Division III poll for the past four years. Coach Scott Moe's squad won three of the five tournaments it played in this fall including the 2009 MIAC Championships. The Gusties have automatically qualified for the 2010 NCAA Championship, which will take place in Howie-In-The-Hills, Florida, May 11-14.
Hamline Football Honors - Hamline's football team defeated Carleton, 34-17, in their final home game of the year on Saturday. Two Pipers earned conference honors for their performances as linebacker Cory Olson (So., Elk River, Minn.) was named the MIAC defensive athlete of the week and punter John Broback (So., Apple Valley, Minn.) was named the MIAC co-special teams player of the week. Olson scored Hamline's first touchdown of the game after he snagged an interception in the first quarter and then returned the ball 39 yards for the score, and also had three pass break-ups, a forced fumble that the Pipers recovered, and seven tackles (three solo). Broback averaged 49.8 yards a punt on four punts and pinned the Knights inside the 20-yard line twice with two 50+ yard punts (77, 61). The 77-yard punt was just two yards shy of the Hamline record and pinned Carleton on the two-yard line.
Bethel leads the way - Marie Borner (Sr., Cottage Grove, Minn.) and Dan Greeno (Sr., St. Michael, Minn.) were the individual winners in the MIAC Cross Country Championships on Saturday, making them the first runners from the same school to do so since 1994 when Jeff Renlund and Kelly Copps of St. Thomas accomplished the feat. Borner is the first three-time individual champion since Julia Kirtland of Macalester (1984-86).
What 2 Watch 4…
MIAC Women’s Soccer Playoffs - Today marks the start of the MIAC women’s soccer playoffs. Concordia (10-0-1 MIAC, 16-0-1 Overall) sits at #1 in the bracket with #4 Carleton (6-2-3 MIAC, 9-5-4 Overall) traveling to Moorhead, game time is set for 2 p.m. Coach John Leaney and the No. 3-seeded Macalester (7-3-1 MIAC, 12-4-2 Overall) women’s team make the short trip down Summit Avenue to take on the second-seeded Tommies (8-2-1 MIAC, 13-4-1 Overall) starting at 2 p.m. also. On October 24th, Macalester topped the Tommies 1-0 in overtime at St. Thomas. In their regular season matchup, Concordia (10-0-1 MIAC, 16-0-1 Overall) and Carleton (6-2-3 MIAC, 9-5-4 Overall) played to a 1-1 tie in Northfield also on October 24th.
MIAC Volleyball Playoffs - Saint Benedict (25-4 overall) and St. Thomas (24-6 overall) both won a share of the 2009 MIAC volleyball regular-season championship with 10-1 conference records this season. This is the first title for Saint Benedict since 1998 and their seventh overall. The Blazers, who will host the second round of playoffs on Thurs., Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. against the Augsburg (#5)/Concordia (#4) winner, received the #1 spot in the playoffs with their win over St. Thomas earlier in the season. The Tommies have a first-round bye for the conference playoffs as well. They will play a Thursday nighthome match -- at Concordia U.'s Gangelhoff Center -- against the St. Olaf (#3)/ Saint Mary's (#6) winner. The Playoffs begin tonight with two quarterfinal matches at 7 p.m. In Northfield, #3 St. Olaf will host #6 Saint Mary's, while #4 Augsburg will host #5 Concordia in Minneapolis. Both games will feature live video and stats online. The Augsburg volleyball team has qualified for the MIAC playoffs for the first time since the conference went to its current six-team postseason format in 2001.
MIAC Men’s Soccer Playoffs - The MIAC men’s soccer playoffs get underway tomorrow, November 4th. St. Thomas, the #4 seed, will travel to #1 Carleton for a 2 p.m. start while #2 seed Macalester is host Wednesday night (Nov. 4) to #3 St. Olaf at 7:30 p.m. The winner of both those games will play in the championship game this Saturday, November 7th at the high seed. St. Olaf clawed its way into the MIAC playoffs with a 2-0 win over regular season champion and then 23rd-ranked Carleton College on Sunday. The Scots won their final four games to make the MIAC playoffs for the first time since 2005, clinching the #2 seed when Taylor Rasmussen scored early in overtime Friday at Hamline. During the regular season, Carleton (8-2 MIAC, 14-4 Overall) beat St. Thomas (6-3-1 MIAC, 10-6-2 Overall) 1-0 in double overtime in St. Paul. Macalester (7-3 MIAC, 10-7-1 Overall) topped St. Olaf (7-3 MIAC, 13-3-2 Overall) in St. Paul by a score of 3-1 on October 17th.
Hour of Power Relay - The swimming and diving teams from 11 MIAC institutions will participate in the “Hour of Power” Relay for Cancer Research, set for next Tuesday, Nov. 10. The fourth annual Ted Mullin “Leave it in the Pool” Hour of Power Relay for Pediatric Sarcoma Research, joins approximately 6,000 athletes from more than 120 college, high school, and club teams across the nation. They will participate in the event to honor those who are fighting or have succumbed to cancer, including former Carleton swimmer Edward H. “Ted” Mullin, who passed away from synovial sarcoma, a rare soft-tissue cancer, in September 2006. The event encompasses programs from NCAA Division I, II and III. Additionally, more than 20 club, high-school and students-abroad teams on three continents will participate. The event—held in each team’s home pool—is a 60-minute, all-out, leave-it-in-the-pool practice consisting of continuous relays, using any stroke. The “Hour of Power” Relay has grown from 15 teams the first year to the current figures for 2009. Additional information can be found at http://go.carleton.edu/HourOfPower.
#3 in the Nation - The Gustavus women's hockey team, which spent the majority of the 2008-09 season ranked #1 in Division III, is ranked #3 in the U.S. College Hockey website's Pre-Season Division III poll. The Gusties, who return 14 letter winners from the squad that won the 2009 MIAC Regular Season Title and Post-season Tournament, will open its 2009-10 season on Friday, Nov. 13 at #7 UW-River Falls. Gustavus will look to avenge a 2-1 loss to UW-River Falls on March 14, 2009 in the first round of 2009 NCAA Playoffs.
Metrodome Tradition - Augsburg will host its final home football game of the season at the H.H.H. Metrodome on Saturday at 1 p.m. against #4 ranked Saint John's (8-0, 6-0 MIAC), continuing a two decade-old tradition. Since the MIAC ended its Metrodome Showcase series of games after the 2000 season, the Auggies have continued to play their final home game at the home field of the Minnesota Vikings. Saturday's game will mark the 20th season in a row that Augsburg has played a football game at the Metrodome, and the Auggies will make their 23rd football appearance at the Metrodome since 1983, the most of any MIAC school. Saint John’s is 12-3-1 all-time (.781) at the Metrodome, and has won nine of its last 10 games under the Teflon.
Saint Benedict Hockey Tournament - The St. Catherine and Saint Benedict hockey teams kick off their seasons this weekend when they face Finlandia and Concordia (Wis.) on Friday and Saturday at the Municipal Athletic Complex in St. Cloud. The Wildcats and Blazers will each play Finlandia and Concordia (Wis.). Game times are set for 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Inside the Numbers…
6 – The number of St. Thomas’ consecutive sport seasons (fall-winter-spring) in which the Tommies have qualified for every possible MIAC postseason playoff. St. Thomas is assured of seven top-three MIAC finishes and one fourth-place finish in its eight fall sports this year. The Toms will take leads in the men's and women's all-sport races headed into winter. The UST women have 40.5 points after fall to lead St. Ben's (34), St. Olaf (33.5), Carleton (30.5) and Concordia (28.5). The men will finish with a slight lead on St. Olaf and a 4-5 point lead on Saint John's when football points are official.
9 - The number of consecutive MIAC playoff spots for the Concordia-Moorhead volleyball team. The Cobbers have won three MIAC playoff championships in the past seven years.
14 - The number of goals for Saint Mary’s women’s soccer player Amy Sibik (Onalaska, Wis.) which is a single-season career high. Sibik scored SMU’s game-winner in a 1-0 women’s soccer win vs. Augsburg on October 28th which was the junior’s team-leading 14th goal of the season. It gives her 34 for her career and moved her within three goals of Barb Bock for No. 6 all-time at Saint Mary’s.
229 - In a field of 229, St. Kate's senior Greta Sieve ran to a fourth place finish at the MIAC Cross Country Championships. Sieve's finish was the highest ever by a St. Kate's student-athlete, eclipsing Katie Jorgenson's fifth place finish in 1998. Sieve also became only the third St. Kate's cross country runner in school history to finish in the top 15 and earn All-Conference honors at the MIAC Championships.
Did You Know?
A piece of St. Thomas is headed across the world later this week. Tom Carey of UST's Office of International Student Services will embark on a three-week mini-mission trip to northern Ghana to work with the villagers in the parishes. Carey will visit two priests who attended St. Thomas in the past few years, Fr. Clement and Fr. Augustine. St. Thomas soccer coaches Sheila McGill and Aaron Macke each provided soccer balls to be given to children in the parish in Ghana.