Sophomore forward Josh Giacomin gave the Foresters the lead for good late in the first period and clinched the victory with an empty net score in the final minute of Friday night's 4-2 triumph at Trine University.
Giacomin's first goal of the night broke a 1-1 tie with 5:12 to play in the opening period. The only power play score of the contest was assisted by junior forward Aaron O'Neill and defenseman Mark DerManulian. Lake Forest was 1-for-3 with a man advantage while the Thunder were unsuccessful on their only power play opportunity of the game.
Forester freshman forward Drew Shields scored the first goal of the contest after just 83 seconds of play. His third tally of the year was set up by junior forwards Joey Sardina and Kyler Magus.
Trine drew even at the 10:10 mark.
Lake Forest had an 11-6 edge in shots in the game's first 20 minutes and took a 2-1 lead into the locker room at the first intermission.
The score remained 2-1 until Forester sophomore forward Zach Leonard netted his first career goal with just 1:07 on the second period clock. DerManulian and freshman forward Ryan Kropp each picked up an assist on the play and the visitors' lead was 3-1 and advantage in shots 22-14 with 20 minutes to play.
Trine outshot their guests 6-4 in the final period and drew to within a goal at the 6:26 mark.
Lake Forest held on to its 3-2 lead until the final minute, when Giacomin filled the empty net for his second score of the night and third this season.
Junior Boyd DiClemente made 18 saves in the game and became the seventh Forester goaltender in recorded program history with at least 10 victories in a season.
Lake Forest improved to 10-2-1 overall and remained in first place in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association standings at 7-1-0 in league play. Trine fell to 6-6-0 overall and 4-3-0 in the conference. The same two teams will face off again at Trine Saturday at 5:00 p.m. (ET).