Tommies strong on busy sports weekend

Bernhardt scores last-minute goal in men’s soccer victory

Forward Alex Bernhardt scored the game-winning goal with only 90 seconds remaining in regulation to give the St. Thomas men’s soccer team a 2-1 victory over Lake Forest (Ill.) Sunday on the road.

Forward Nick Rapisarda controls the ball in practice during a team drill. Rapisarda and the men's soccer team defeated Lake Forest (Ill.) 2-1 Sunday.
Forward Nick Rapisarda controls the ball in practice during a team drill. Rapisarda and the men’s soccer team defeated Lake Forest (Ill.) 2-1 Sunday.

Goalkeeper Mitchell Wolff said despite the intensity in the last few minutes, he feels “pretty comfortable” in high pressure situations.

“I have a lot of confidence in our defensive line and I know how good our team is and I think our team is prepared for any situation thrown at us,” Wolff said.

The victory gave the men their third consecutive win and brought their overall record to 3-1. Bernhardt’s game-winning goal was his fourth on the season.

The team will travel to Wisconsin this weekend to face Wisconsin-Oshkosh Friday and Concordia (Wis.) Sunday.

Volleyball undefeated in weekend tourney

Middle blocker Kelly Foley recorded 58 kills in four matches to spur the St. Thomas volleyball team’s undefeated run in the four-team tournament held at Augsburg College Saturday and Sunday.

The Tommies’ sweep included a five-set win over Wartburg College (Iowa) and a three-set victory over Wisconsin-Lacrosse. The wins solidified St. Thomas’ No. 1 ranking.

“I’m just really proud of my teammates for working so hard and for coming back, especially when we were so tired at the end of it,” Foley said. “We just really stayed strong.”

The women will take the court again in the Carthage tournament (Wis.) Saturday and Sunday.

“I think we just need … to bring momentum into our games and tournaments in the future,” Foley said.

Gerhartz’s top finish carries men’s cross country

Jacob Gerhartz blazed the trail for the St. Thomas men’s cross country team Saturday, placing second in a field of 68 runners at the Crown College Men’s Cross Country Invite.

Gerhartz, a freshman, was 11 seconds behind Macalester runner Joe Glamberdino, who won the 8,000 meter race in 27:46.

St. Thomas did not race its top two runners Saturday, but placed second of four teams in the competition.

William Manaker was the second Tommie to cross the finish line; he closed out the race in 28:18 to finish in fifth place overall.

Peyton, Pepin snag top women’s cross country finishes

On a team dominated by freshmen and sophomores, second-year runner Gabrielle Pepin led the St. Thomas women’s cross country team as it opened its season competing in the Pike Island Alumni Open race Saturday near Fort Snelling.

Pepin finished the 5,000 meter race second only to alumnus Larissa Peyton who clocked in at 19:01. Pepin finished in 19:13.

On a team of 21, there is only one junior and one senior. St. Thomas was picked seventh in the first Central Region poll of 2013 by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association.

The women will travel to the Falcon Invitational meet Saturday in River Falls, Wis. to start their regular season.

St. Thomas women’s golf takes first at Wartburg invite

St. Thomas women’s golfer Erin Dingmann shot a 77 Sunday, putting her fourth out of 89 players at this weekend’s Wartburg Invite.

In the two-day tournament, the Tommies placed first among 15 teams with help from All-American Doyle O’Brien shooting 47 and Dingmann shooting 77.

O’Brien and Dingmann tied for fourth out of 89 players on the weekend.

Next up for the Tommies is the Division III Classic Saturday and Sunday in Lake City, Minn.