M OR N IN GS ID E C O L L E G E
M ATC H DAY - A P RIL 7, 2021
MUSTANG LACROSSE Morningside College returns to its home FieldTurf Wednesday, April 7, in men’s action and Friday, April 9 and Sunday, April 11, for women’s competition. It’s the first match play for either program since the University of Saint Mary picked up a pair of Kansas College Athletic Conference wins at Tom Rosen Field March 28. Head coach Jack O’Brien’s men’s team takes on William Penn University Wednesday as does head coach Caitlyn St. Marie women’s squad Friday. Sunday’s contest is a women’s clash between the Mustangs and Culver-Stockton College. After a fast start by visiting USM in the first 30 minutes, St. Marie’s crew rallied back to draw even with the Spires in the second half. The Mustangs found themselves down 12-0 at the break, as the visitors tallied eight goals in the opening 15 minutes. Despite falling to 0-7 overall and 0-6 in KCAC play, the Maroon answered the bell in the second half. Sophomore midfielder/attacker Lucy Preugschas, sophomore attacker Macy Hajek, and junior midfielder/attacker Ashley Wilcox all posted goals. Freshman goalkeeper Natalie Hunt added eight saves and two ground balls, and sophomore midfielder Lizeth Hilario, and sophomore midfielder Bella Burdette tallied two ground balls each, too. The recent match accolades have kept Mside firmly entrenched among the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ top half numbers through April 3. The team’s 68 saves and 9.71 saves per match are both 11th-best nationally. Hunt, who has compiled all of the netminder digits this season, is eighth overall and 11th in per contest totals individually. In its latest outing, O’Brien’s squad dropped to 0-6 overall and in conference play with an 18-1 loss to USM. Sophomore midfielder/attacker Brendan Rorabacher contributed the goal. He won a faceoff and blistered his way through the Spires’ defense to find the back of the visiting net. He also tallied six total shots, three shots on goal, and two ground balls in the matinee. Just like his equivalent in the women’s program, freshman goalkeeper Austin Streeter finds himself sitting among the first 25 in the national numbers. His 52 saves which translate out to 8.67 per appearance are both 21st-best. Along team lines, Morningside has four categories in the top 29 (saves per game – 8.67 – 26th/total saves – 52 – 26th/total shots – 54 – 29th/total shots on goal – 24 – 29th). Morningside’s men are scheduled to conclude the 2021 home season Monday, April 12, with Columbia College visiting Sioux City for a 3 p.m. match.
ABOUT THE OPPOSITION Head coach Luke Christiansen’s Statesmen’s men’s team enters the midweek battle having won its last three and sporting a 6-6 overall and 4-3 conference mark. WPU’s offense has been a strong commodity posting 119 goals through 12 matches. Freshman attacker Boston Romero headlines the outfit with 30, and freshman midfielder Collin Baliva is second on the list (18). William Penn’s women, coached by Corrine Smeak, sports a 4-6 overall and 3-4 league mark. Midfielder graduate transfer Emma Lady has dropped in 30 successful shot on goal tries and forms with freshman midfielder Hallie Clark (25 goals) for a formidable one-two punch. The Wildcats of Culver-Stockton went into a Friday meeting with Midland University harboring a 2-9 overall and 2-5 KCAC record. Head coach Caitlin Erickson’s team was topped, through 11 matches, by the duo of sophomore midfielder Sopheea Vomund and sophomore attacker Melanie Sanchez who combined for 27 of the team’s 66 goals in the span.