Pair of Lynx honored as MSFA players of the week
The Mid-States Football Association honored Lindenwood-Belleville seniors Matt Blacharczyk and KaRa Stewart as the defensive and special teams players of the week for their performance on Saturday.
This is the first time a LU-B player has been awarded player of the week honors by the MSFA.
Blacharczyk, a Belleville East graduate, totaled 13 tackles to lead the Lynx on defense as they came from behind to beat the Olivet Nazarene Tigers 24-23. On what may have been the biggest play of the game, Blacharczyk threw a Olivet ball carrier for an eight-yard loss to force a turnover on downs and set up the Lynx's game-winning drive.
In his first game in a Lynx uniform, Stewart totaled 168 yards on kick returns, the biggest of which was a school record-tying 97-yard return for a touchdown. Stewart is an O'Fallon graduate who transfered to LU-B from Alabama State.
The Lynx will return to action Saturday when they travel to St. Ambrose for another MSFA Crossover game.
Top Trainer
Former Lindenwood-Belleville head athletic trainer, Bill Dill, has been named the NAIA Athletic Trainer of the Year, it was announced Tuesday.
Dill was at the helm of the athletic training staff at its inception in 2009 and was responsible for the building of the department. He currently oversees the athletic training major at LU-B and no longer serves as the head athletic trainer.
"I am honored to receive this award and know it could not have been achieved without the great staff of athletic trainers around me," Dill said through a university release.
During his tenure, the athletic staff oversaw 36 varsity sports at LU-B.
Spikers get back on track
The Lady Lynx ended a nine-match losing streak by beating St. Louis College of Pharmacy in their American Midwest Conference opener Tuesday. LU-B swept the match 25-13, 25-17, and 25-18. The Lady Lynx improved to 2-10 on the season and dropped the Eutectics to 0-5.
Stephanie Cathcart (Wesclin) led the offensive attack once again with 10 kills. Paired with freshman, Erin Ladeairous (Fresno, Calif.), the two combined for 15 kills against two errors. Kenlea Herndon (East Alton-Wood River) totaled seven kills and Kendall Linder added six.
Kacey Wahlig (Freeburg) tallied 17 assists as freshman Allie Holmes (Paterson, Mo.) totaled 14. Coming off her AMC Defensive Player of the Week performance, Chelsea Crocker (Breese) had 10 digs and committed no passing errors.
The Lady Lynx will continue AMC play with another road match at Stephens College Sept. 22 at 7 p.m.
Stiehr leads women’s soccer
With a 2-0 record on the week, the Lady Lynx soccer team matched their wins total from the 2014 season with four.
In the two games, Jessika Stiehr (Wentzville, Mo.) tallied three goals and three assists as LU-B outscored its two opponents 13-1.
With a total of nine points on the week, Stiehr has surpassed her point total from last season. This is Stiehrs' first selection as AMC Player of the Week and the first time a Lady Lynx player has been the offensive player of the week this season.
Rugby begins with a win
Men's rugby opened its inaugural regular season with a 28-19 defeat of defending WIIL-South champ Illinois State in Normal on Saturday. Up next for the Lynx is the program's first-ever home contest against University of Illinois–Chicago on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Rare home loss
The LU-B men's soccer team lost on the home pitch for the first time in 20 games. Wiliams Baptist defeated the No. 19 Lynx, 2-1, Saturday. The loss also was the Lynx's first-ever loss in the American Midwest Conference. They went 9-0-1 last season in their first year in the league.
The Lynx will try to rebound at the Indiana Wesleyan Fall Classic, where they will face the No. 10-ranked host team and Bethel (Ind.) on Friday and Saturday.
Until last week, Indiana Wesleyan held the longest undefeated streak in the nation at 19 games. Its last lost came during an Aug. 29, 2014 game against LU-B.
This story was originally published September 16, 2015 at 12:41 PM with the headline "Pair of Lynx honored as MSFA players of the week."