The Forester men's hockey team's 2014-15 season came to an end Sunday night after a 1-0 loss to visiting College of St. Scholastica in the decisive 20-minute minigame of the teams' Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Harris Cup quarterfinal series. Senior forward Luke Swardenski scored the game-winner as Lake Forest prevailed 3-2 in game two of the series earlier in the evening.
Swardenski took a pass from fellow senior forward Bobby Barrett and converted a breakaway opportunity at the 8:47 mark of the third period, breaking a 2-2 tie. It was Swardenski's team-high 14th goal of the season.
Lake Forest struck first in the game on senior defenseman Ben Certo's fifth goal of the year. Sophomore forward Jack Lewis assisted on the score at the 15:03 mark of the first period, just nine seconds into a power play opportunity.
St. Scholastica tied the score at 15:01 in the second period and took the lead just 82 seconds later.
The Foresters drew even with 1:26 to play in the period on senior forward Jason McAloon's ninth score of the season. He was assisted by senior defenseman Andrew Stein.
The Saints out-shot Lake Forest 15-12 in the opening period, 10-8 in the second, and 12-9 in the third. Forester junior goaltender Leo Podolsky, however, turned away 35 of St. Scholastica's 37 shots on goal to earn the victory. He finished the season with a record of 15-6-3 and his .940 save percentage and 1.99 goals against average on the year rank second in program history. In addition, his 754 saves are the fourth-highest single-season total in team annals.
After the completion of game two of the series, the teams had a 15-minute break before taking the ice again for the minigame. Lake Forest controlled most of the 20 minutes, outshooting the Saints 15-5, but the visitors took advantage of a turnover and breakaway opportunity for the only goal of the contest.
The Foresters, who entered the weekend ranked 15th in the nation, finished the season 15-7-5. Their victory total ranks tied-for-eight in team history and their .648 winnings percentage is ninth-best.
St. Scholastica advances to next weekend's NCHA Harris Cup semifinals with a record of 13-11-3.
It was the final game for nine Forester seniors. In addition to Swardenski, Barrett, Certo, McAloon, and Andrew Stein, classmates Charlie Stein, Anthony Martinez, Mcauley Banning, and Jordan Bruce are set to graduate in May.
