Lake Forest Prevails in Regular Season Finale, Finishes Second in NCHA

Photo by Ella Manthey
Photo by Ella Manthey

The Forester women's hockey team posted a 3-1 victory at Marian University Saturday in the final game of the regular season.

Lake Forest senior forward Abigail Tucci started the scoring at the 13:05 mark of the opening period. She fired a shot from the top of the right circle and over the goalie's glove for her fourth score of the season. 

The Sabres, however, tied the score with 1:54 remaining in the period. 

Senior defenseman Olyvia Opsahl netted her second goal of the weekend and seventh this year at the 16:11 mark of the second period. Sophomore forward Caitlyn Dahut won the draw in the right circle and played the puck back the sophomore defenseman Grace Garby, who crossed it to Opsahl just inside the blue line. She skated forward a few feet and blasted a shot into the right side of the goal for the official game-winner.

Junior forward Marissa Gebauer doubled the lead just 30 seconds later, converting a breakaway opportunity with a backhanded goal around the Marian netminder. Gebauer's team-high 13th goal this year was assisted by Opsahl and junior forward Stokli Ashcraft.

Lake Forest put 17 shots on goal in the final period but was unable to add any more to the lead. The Foresters had a 46-22 advantage in shots on goal in the contest.

Junior goaltender Hannah Turnage raised her save percentage on the season to .935 and lowered her goals against average to 2.02.

The Foresters completed the regular season with an overall record of 13-9-0 and finished second in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association standings with 38 points and a league mark of 13-3-0. Marian fell to 7-16-2 overall and 4-10-2 in the league.

The same two teams will face off again in Lake Forest during next weekend's NCHA Slaats Cup quarterfinals. The opener of the two-game series will begin Friday night at 7:00 with game two scheduled for Saturday at 2:00 p.m.