The Forester women's hockey team defeated visiting Finlandia University 7-2 Friday night. Sophomore forward Holly Lesperance earned assists on both of junior forward Morgan Pope's goals in the game.
Pope's first goal of the contest gave the home team a 2-0 lead with 4:15 to play in the opening period and her second of the night and 14th this season made the score 5-1 at the 4:08 mark of the third. The latter score was also assisted by junior defenseman Erin Shamley.
Sophomore forward Melissa Paluch also scored twice in the game. Her goal at the 11:09 mark of the second period extended the Forester lead to 4-0 and she lit the lamp for the 10th time this season with 27 seconds to play in the contest. Junior forward Emily Wybo and sophomore forward Logan Taylor earned assists on Paluch's first goal and the second was unassisted.
Forester freshman forward Allie Girard started the scoring at the 8:16 mark of the first period. Her eighth goal of the year was assisted by senior forward Maeve Connelly.
Junior defenseman Laura Reckdenwald netted what turned out to be the official game-winning goal with 1:47 to play in the first. It was her third score of the season.
Paluch picked up the assist on the home team's other goal, which was scored by junior forward Marissa Weber at 6:54 in the third. It was her 10th score of the year.
Finlandia's power play goal at 12:51 in the second got the Lions on the scoreboard and the visitors netted their second goal of the night with just eight seconds to play in the game.
Lake Forest freshman goaltender Casey Hartfiel recorded 14 saves in the victory.
Finlandia fell to 0-17-0 overall and 0-13-0 in Northern Collegiate Hockey Association play this season. The Foresters raised their overall record to 10-4-3 and climbed into a tie with Adrian College for second place in the NCHA standings with a league mark of 8-3-2. Their 18 points are just two behind the College of St. Scholastica, which posted a 1-0 victory at Adrian Friday night. Lake Forest will host St. Scholastica Saturday afternoon at 3:00.
