Information courtesy of MLC Athletics

Men’s Soccer

MLC 2, UMM 1

NEW ULM — The Martin Luther College men’s soccer team returned to the winner’s circle with a 2-1 victory over Minnesota Morris on Friday.

The Knights came out of the gates strong, and capitalized on that early effort with a Josiah Wordell goal in the 12th minute off an assist from Lucas Martin. The goal was Wordell’s third this season, and pushed the Knights into halftime with a 1-0 advantage.

MLC continued to press to start the second half, and after UMM keeper Lucas Harmon stopped a penalty kick to keep the difference at one goal, Xander Heiman netted his fourth goal of the season off a David Martin corner kick in the 72nd minute to push the MLC lead to 2-0.

That insurance goal came in handy, as the Cougars got on the board in the 75th minute to cut the deficit in half, but the Knights held them off down the stretch to secure the 2-1 win.

Wordell led the Knights with four shots (three on goal) in the game, while Nathan Pausma added three total shots. For the game, the Knights out-shot the Cougars 14-11 overall and 9-5 in shots on goal.

Keeper Michael Friesenegger stopped four UMM shots for MLC.

The Knights improved to 3-12-0 on the season and 2-9-0 in UMAC play. The Knights host Crown College at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Women’s Soccer

UMM 3, MLC 2

NEW ULM — The Martin Luther College women’s soccer team experienced a wide range of emotions in a 3-2 defeat to Minnesota Morris on Friday.

The two teams finished the first half scoreless, but the fireworks stared early in the second half with an Avery Broyles goal in the 48th minute that gave MLC a 1-0 lead.

The Knights held onto that one-goal edge until the 68th minute, when UMM’s Kim Peters dribbled through the MLC defense for two goals in a 23-second span to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead.

MLC still trailed by one heading into the final minutes, but found the equalizer on Lilianne Zimpelmann’s first career collegiate goal in the 84th minute. The goal came just several minutes after Zimpelmann had a goal erased due to a handball.

The Knights’ momentum would be short-lived, however, as Monica Calderon put the Cougars on top for good with the game-winning goal in the 85th minute.

Nicole Porter recorded assists on both MLC goals. The goal from Broyles was her second of the season.

Grace Sievert stopped seven of the Cougars’ 10 shots on goal for the Knights.

MLC fell to 3-11-1 on the season and 2-8-1 in UMAC play in defeat. MLC hosts Crown College at 1 p.m. Saturday.

College Volleyball

MLC 3, Crown 0

ST. BONIFACIUS — The Martin Luther College volleyball team won a tough first set, and then breezed through the next two games on the way to a 3-0 (27-25, 25-11, 25-15) sweep at Crown College on Friday.

The Storm battled the Knights to open the match as the two teams went back and forth, but MLC finally broke through with a Kelsey Birschbach kill to end the first set 27-25.

The Knights never gave up control from that point, winning the second set 25-11, and then never trailing on the way to a 25-15 third-set win to complete the sweep.

Birschbach was dominant on the attack, finishing with a match-high 16 kills and a .412 attack efficiency. She recorded at least five kills in all three sets.

Senior libero Kate Aswege led all players with 21 digs, while Kylie Wolf was strong with her serve on the way to four service aces.

The Knights improved to 9-12 on the season and 8-3 in UMAC play with the win. Crown fell to 1-16 overall and 0-11 in league play in defeat.

MLC will return to action Saturday when it travels to Minnesota Morris.