St. Norbert Locks Up Tenth Midwest Conference Championship

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, October 23, 2018 | Men's Soccer
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

RIPON - St. Norbert College claimed its tenth Midwest Conference men's soccer championship with a workmanlike 4-0 win over Ripon College in a MWC match at Prairie Field.

The Green Knights (15-0-1, 8-0 MWC), who are ranked No. 12 in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III Top 25, wrapped up their third Midwest Conference title in the last four seasons. St. Norbert will host the four-team Midwest Conference Tournament on Nov. 2-3 at Schneider Stadium in De Pere.

St. Norbert got the early jump on the Red Hawks, getting a goal just 5 minutes and 40 seconds into the match. Ben Prange fed Griffin Hoerchner out on the left wing, and his shot to the far post was true for his second goal of the season. The goal would hold up through halftime for a 1-0 lead.

The Green Knights got some breathing room at 50:50 when Prange finished his 18th goal of the season off an assist from Dominic DeMaria. The goal gave Prange a personal season-high total, and is just two short of Will Carstens' school record of 20 set in 1993.

Seth Boldt scored at 53:03 for his fourth goal of the season, finishing off another assist from DeMaria. Drew Checolinski found the goal at 87:45 with Lucas Rojas registering an assist.

Ben Holtzen made two saves for the Green Knights, who fashioned their fifth consecutive shutout. The five consecutive shutouts ties a school record set in 1993 and 2017.

St. Norbert outshot Ripon 27-3 and held a 6-0 edge in corner kicks.