Contact: Lou Groce, Director of Media and Information, 920-229-8157

GRINNELL, Iowa – Lake Forest College will serve as the host of the 2016 Midwest Conference (MWC) Men’s Soccer Tournament this Friday and Saturday with Knox College, St. Norbert College and Grinnell College also qualifying. 

The Foresters will open the tournament with a semifinal match against Grinnell.  Earlier this season, the Foresters squeaked by the Pioneers in double overtime, 3-2, back on September 25.  Grinnell had a late lead in the contest, but Lake Forest’s John Cappuccitti tied the score in the 86^th minute and assisted on Gaston Aubert’s game-winner. 

The Foresters, who have recently been ranked No. 10 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) North Region, have the best offense in the league and are averaging a full goal more than second-best St. Norbert.  Cappuccitti and Aubert both scored seven goals in conference play to lead the league, while Cappuccitti and Elyas Ingram are 1-2 in the conference in assists.  In goal, Tero Elias has been solid, producing one shutout and posting a solid 1.165 goals against average.  The Foresters defense protects him very well as he has had to make just 15 saves in over 600 minutes of action. 

The Pioneers enter the league third both scoring and defense and are making their first appearance in the postseason since 2012.  Nick Brule is the Pioneers’ go-to guy offensively.  He leads the club in goals (11), points (26), shots (37) and shots on goal (25).  Artis Curiskis has scored five goals and four assists on the season and is also a big part of the offensive attack. 

Defensively, Grinnell has been on fire lately, allowing just two goals in their last four matches.  Major May has been tremendous in goal this season and allowed just eight goals throughout the regular season conference schedule with three shutouts.  He anchors a defense that allows just .89 goals per game. 

The second semifinal will be a rematch of last Saturday’s 1-1 tie between St. Norbert and Knox.  The Prairie Fire are the only team to finish the conference schedule unbeaten and tied Grinnell and St. Norbert.  Knox relies heavily on its defense, allowing just five goals in nine conference matches.  Justin Dunn has been a wall between the pipes and sports a league-best .529 goals against average. 

Charlie Raymond and Erick Karkut are Knox’s top two offensive threats, but they do use a balanced attacked.  Eight players have scored multiple goals for Knox this fall and Austin Grzebieniak’s five assists lead the club. 

Freshman Ben Prange has exploded onto the scene in his first year in a Green Knight uniform and leads the third-seeded Green Knights into the postseason.  Prange leads the club with 11 goals and five game-winning goals.  Veterans Tyler Kassube and Sam Lamers will also be key to St. Norbert’s success.  Kassube has nine goals and seven assists on the season, while Lamers has punched in four scores and passed out five assists. 

St. Norbert has also been stellar defensively and has the largest average margin of victory in the league (2).  They allow just .78 goals per match in conference action and just eight goals total.  Josh Koleske produced just one shutout but split some time with Sam Lisheron. 

Lake Forest and Grinnell will kick off at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow afternoon with St. Norbert and Knox following at 1:30 p.m.  The winners will meet for the MWC’s automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday at 12:00 p.m.