2017 Ry McCarthy Award winner Allie Girard scored a pair of goals after receiving her award Saturday in the Forester women's hockey team's 4-4 tie with visiting College of St. Scholastica.
Girard, a senior forward, is the seventh recipient of the annual award given to the Forester women's hockey player, selected by her teammates, who best displays spirit, determination, dedication, and love for the game of hockey – the special qualities of the player for whom the award was named. Ry McCarthy was a successful goaltender from 2006 to 2008 before being diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma, an extremely aggressive form of cancer. McCarthy lost her battle with cancer in July of 2009.
The Foresters trailed 2-1 when Girard received the award between the first and second periods. Lake Forest junior forward Olivia Spellmire's 11th goal of the season tied the score at one at the 9:26 mark with senior forward Isabel Regine assisting. St. Scholastica, however, regained the lead on a power play goal at 13:06 and added to their advantage on another power play score two-and-a-half minutes into the second period.
Girard began the home team's comeback with a score at 6:46 in the second. She was assisted by freshman forward Lexi Morgan.
Morgan then converted a power play opportunity at the 7:58 mark of the third period to tie the score at three. Her seventh score this season was set up by Spellmire and junior forward Amanda Brunges. Lake Forest took the lead for the only time in the game on Girard's second goal of the afternoon and eighth this season just 53 seconds later. Morgan and freshman defenseman Julia Unterseher set up the score.
The Saints took advantage of a power play opportunity for the third time in the game at the 9:57 mark and neither team scored again.
Lake Forest had a significant edge in shots on goal in each period, including an 8-1 advantage in the scoreless five-minute overtime, and out-shot the visitors 44-20 on the day.
It was the first tie of the season for the Foresters, who entered the week ranked seventh in the nation and are now 13-2-1 overall and 7-1-1 in Northern Collegiate Hockey Association play. St. Scholastica remains at .500 with a 6-6-2 overall record and 3-3-2 mark in the league.
Lake Forest's next three games will be played against Concordia University Wisconsin. The teams will face off in Mequon, Wisconsin, next Friday and Saturday night at 7:00 and in Lake Forest at the same time the following Tuesday.
