The Lake Forest College women's hockey team defeated the College of St. Scholastica 4-2 at home on Saturday to join the Saints and Adrian College atop the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association standings. Forester sophomore forward Melissa Paluch scored a pair of goals for the second day in a row.
Paluch started the scoring exacly eight minutes into the game with an assist credited to junior forward Marissa Weber. St. Scholastica, however tied the score at the 10:14 mark and it was still tied at one at the ends of the opening period.
Paluch gave the home team the lead again on a power play goal at the 4:25 mark of the second period. Her 12th goal this season and fourth of the weekend was set up by fellow sophomore forwards Michelle Greeneway and Logan Taylor. Holly Lesperance, another sophomore forward, netted her fifth score of the season just 86 seconds later with junior forwards Emily Wybo and Morgan Pope assisting on what turned out to be the official game-winning goal. Greeneway added an insurance goal at 7:53, her team-high 19th of the year. Taylor and sophomore defenseman Alex Stensland assisted on the score.
The Saints accounted for the only goal of the third period at 6:04.
Lake Forest senior goaltender Stacey Dierking finished with 23 saves and the home team outshot St. Scholastica 38-25 in the contest.
The Foresters are now 11-4-3 overall and St. Scholastica 11-5-3. Both teams are 9-3-2 in NCHA play and tied with Adrian with 20 points in the standings. St. Norbert is in fourth place, just three points back.
Lake Forest will host St. Norbert next Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
