Lake Forest hosted and defeated Wartburg College 9-7 on Wednesday in the semifinals of the Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference Tournament.
Freshman Krissy Kuwahara led the Foresters' effort on offense with a career-high five goals. She also led the home team with four draw controls.
Lake Forest took the lead two-and-a-half minutes into the contest and never relinquished it. Sophomore Lila Beckwith started the scoring with her sixth of the season and Kuwahara's first tally of the game came four minutes later. The Knights got on the scoreboard at the 7:48 mark and Forester freshman Ryleigh Nelson's 19th goal of the year closed out the first quarter scoring with 56 seconds on the clock.
Kuwahara struck twice in the first three minutes of the second quarter to complete her fourth hat trick of the spring. Wartburg answered with a pair of goals and the Forester lead was 5-3 at halftime.
Kuwahara matched her previous season high with her fourth goal of the contest just 17 seconds into the third quarter and freshman Ashley Carr scored the first of her two goals on the day at the 10:53 mark to restore the Foresters' four-goal lead. After a score from the visitors, Kuwahawa netted her fifth of the game and 28th this season and Carr followed with number 18 on the year to make the score 9-4 going into the fourth.
Wartburg made things interesting in the final period, scoring three times in a three-minute span and cutting the Lake Forest lead to just two goals. The comeback bid ended there, however, as the final three-and-a-half minutes of the contests were scoreless.
Forester freshman goalie Calliope Saban finished the game with five saves to earn the victory.
Carr led the home team with five ground balls and sophomore Caitlyn Dahut with three caused turnovers.
Lake Forest is now 11-3 on the season and will host Hamline University in the MWLC Tournament final Saturday at 4:00 p.m.