The Forester women's hockey team won 3-2 in overtime at the College of St. Scholastica on Saturday to extend its program record winning streak to nine games. After tying the score late in the third, Lake Forest won the game on freshman Melissa Paluch's goal 50 seconds into the extra period.
Paluch's team-leading 12th goal of the season was assisted by fellow freshman Michelle Greeneway and sophomore Erin Shamley. Paluch also leads the squad with 24 points.
Lake Forest trailed 2-1 before sophomore Marissa Weber tied the score with 1:32 to play in the third period. Greeneway and freshman Alex Stensland set up the goal.
The Foresters also erased a one-goal deficit in the second period when sophomore Laura Reckdenwald converted a power play opportunity at 5:58. Her third score of the season was assisted by Paluch and sophomore Amily Wybo.
The visitors had a 59-25 advantage in shots on goal in the game, including a 21-8 advantage in the first period and a 20-6 edge in the third. The game-winning goal was scored on the team's fourth shot on goal in just 50 seconds of overtime play.
Lake Forest junior goaltender Stacey Dierking stopped 23 of 25 shots on goal and maintained her perfect record in eight starts this season. She still leads the nation with a .957 save percentage and her 1.01 goals against average ranks second in the country.
The Foresters are now 11-2-4 overall this season and 8-1-4 in Northern Collegiate Hockey Association play. Their 20 points are tied for second in the league standings. St. Scholastica fell to 9-7-3 overall and 6-6-2 in the conference.
Lake Forest will travel to Finlandia University next weekend and take on the Lions Friday evening at 5:00 (EST) and again at 1:00 (EST) Saturday afternoon.
