The Forester women's hockey team tied visiting Concordia University Wisconsin 3-3 Friday night in game one of their quarterfinal series in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Slaats Cup Playoffs.
The Falcons took the early lead just three-and-a-half minutes into the contest. Lake Forest tied the score eight minutes later when sophomore forward Anna McCluskey gained control of the puck just after exiting the offensive zone, made a tight turn back toward the goal and shot from above the circles. The puck caromed off the defender's stick and just inside the left post for McCluskey's second tally of the year.
The teams repeated that process in the second. Concordia Wisconsin converted a power play opportunity at the 3:12 mark and the Foresters pulled even again at 13:00. Sophomore defenseman Abby Meyer intercepted a pass in front of the Lake Forest goal, skated straight up the middle of the ice, juked a defender entering the right circle, and fired a shot past the Falcon goalie for her sixth score of the season.
The third period also featured a goal for both teams, beginning with Forester junior forward Danielle Selby's seventh of the year at the 12:44 mark. She was well-positioned in front of the goal and redirected a crossing pass from senior forward Marissa Gebauer into the net to give the home team its first lead of the night. The Falcons, however, tied the score just two minutes later.
Lake Forest had a slight 43-42 advantage in shots on goal in the contest.
Forester senior goaltender Hannah Turnage made 39 saves on the night, including five in the overtime period.
Lake Forest is now 14-8-4 and Concordia Wisconsin 14-10-2 this season. The teams will play game two of their series Saturday night at 7:00 with the winner advancing to next Friday's semifinal. Another tie would result in a 20-minute mini-game following game two.
