Monmouth Hands Foresters First Loss of the Season

Photo by Matthew McClure, d3photography.com
Photo by Matthew McClure, d3photography.com

Junior linebacker Hector Mendoza was one of three Lake Forest players with a team-high nine tackles in a 52-6 loss to Monmouth College at home on Saturday.

Mendoza had seven tackles in his career before Saturday and was matched on Saturday by freshman linebacker John Laponte and junior cornerback Chase Slagboom.

The Foresters' only points in the game came on a 12-yard run by senior running back Joey Valdivia in the second quarter.

Monmouth had jumped out to a 24-0 lead before Valdivia's touchdown run capped off a four-play, 70-yard drive. The Fighting Scots led 31-6 at halftime and added 21 points in the third quarter to account for the final score.

Lake Forest sophomore quarterback completed 16 of 25 passes for 149 yards on the day and threw his first interception of the season. Senior Sam Mulford led the home team with 32 rushing yards on five carries while seniors Alex Pasiewicz and Charlie Quinn had six catches apiece with Pasiewicz's 41 receiving yards leading the squad.

The Foresters are now 3-1 overall this season and 1-1 in Midwest Conference play. Monmouth improved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the league.

Lake Forest will travel to St. Norbert College next Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.