MLC blanks CSS

in UMAC tourney

NEW ULM -- The Martin Luther Knights spread the scoring around Wednesday afternoon, getting goals from four different players in a 4-0 win over St. Scholastica in the semifinals of the UMAC women's soccer tournament.

MLC will play at Northwestern (Roseville) at 1 p.m. Saturday in the UMAC tournament championship match. The winner will advance to the NAIA Division II Region III championship match.

After a scoreless first 45 minutes, the Knights scored all four of their goals in the second half, including three in an 11-minute span.

"The wind really seemed to be a problem for us in the first half with our passing," MLC coach Jack Gronholz said. "But I was pleased with the way our girls stepped up in the second half."

Sarah Nolte tallied the first goal for MLC (10-6) and also assisted on Jessica Koelpin's goal. Nolte's goal came in the 46th minute and Koelpin tallied in the 80th minute for MLC.

Both Nolte's goal and Katie Mueller's goal in the 75th minute were unassisted. Nolte gave the Knights a 1-0 lead on a breakaway and Mueller scored on her own rebound.

Annie Spier scored the Knights' final goal in the 86th minute, also unassisted on a breakaway. Spier played the first 82 minutes of the match as the goalkeeper and combined with Beth Ibisch for the shutout.

Spier faced all six shots from CSS, four in the first 45 minutes.

"Our defense, I thought, played really well," Gronholz said. "Liz Lemke, Kelly Presser, Sarah Lindke and Janna Benrud all did a great job. We've outscored St. Scholastica 14-1 in three matches and a lot of credit goes to our defense."

MLC recorded 21 shots. Koelpin led the Knights with five shots and Mueller recorded three shots.