WAUKESHA, WI - Augustana College notched a pair of league wins to climb into the MLC title race. The Vikings (7-3, 4-1 MLC) earned road wins over MSOE and Benedictine and currently stands a game behind Concordia (Wis) and Aurora in the loss column.
Sophomore midfielder Alexander Crescenti (Algonquin, Ill./Jacobs) led the Vikings offense in both wins. The sophomore scored five goals with three ground balls and two caused turnovers in an 18-6 road win over MSOE. Crescenti matched that effort with five goals, three ground balls, and one caused turnover in a 12-5 win at Benedictine Saturday.
For the week, the sophomore netted 10 goals with six ground balls, and three caused turnovers to run the Vikings' win streak to five-straight.
Augustana will play host to Hanover at 12PM Saturday.
In other MLC action...
Concordia University (Wis.) (9-2, 4-0 MLC) kept the top spot in the standings following a 22-5 win over Mount St. Joseph (2-10, 0-5 MLC) Saturday. Senior Sam Wladyka (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Vincent Massey Collegiate) scored four goals with an assist in the win over the Lions.
Aurora University (7-3, 4-0 MLC) ran its win streak to seven-straight with wins over Carthage (8-4, 4-1 MLC) and Whittier and stands alongside Concordia (Wis.) at 4-0 in MLC play. Senior midfielder Jack Barry (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo) anchored the defense during a 6-4 win over previously MLC unbeaten Carthage, netting a goal with six ground balls and three caused turnovers. Barry added two goals, two assists, five ground balls, and two caused turnovers in a 9-4 non-conference win over Whittier College Friday. The Aurora defense currently leads the MLC, surrendering only 5.5 goals per contest.
Hanover College (9-3, 5-2 MLC) bounced back from a pair of league losses last week to notch wins over Defiance (0-10, 0-5 MLC) and Elmhurst this week. Junior attacker Nick Hermes (Grayslake, Ill.) scored four goals with a single-game record seven assists in Hanover's 21-0 win over Defiance. In that match, Hermes also set a Hanover single-season record with his 35th goal. Hermes capped the week with one goal in the Panthers' 9-8 overtime win over Elmhurst.
Benedictine (7-4, 3-2 MLC) posted an 8-6 road win at Elmhurst (4-6, 2-3 MLC) Wednesday prior to a loss at home to Augustana Saturday. The Eagles received three goals and an assist from sophomore midfielder Andrew Zmijewski (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township) in the win of the Bluejays. Zmijewski put the game away with his final goal, finding the back of the net with 23 seconds remaining.
Milwaukee School of Engineering (1-7, 1-5 MLC) earned the program's first win since April of 2012 with a 15-0 win at Defiance Saturday. Andrew Clemens (Hanson, Mass./Whitman-Hanson) and Zachary Dawiec (Pleasant Prairie, Wis./Kenosha Tremper) each scored four goals in the win over DC.
For a complete recap of Week 8 in the MLC, click here