The Lake Forest College women's lacrosse team was defeated 14-12 at North Central College Wednesday night in the season opener for both programs.
Junior Ryleigh Nelson led the visitor with five points on two goals and three assists on the evening. She set up sophomore Jenna Doctor on the game's first goal and the Foresters led 2-0 after a score by sophomore Savannah Frauhiger. The Cardinals netted back-to-back goals of the own and the game was tied 2-2 at the end of the first quarter.
After North Central took the lead at the 10:35 mark of the second, junior Ali Graham scored the first of three Lake Forest goals in the next three minutes. Sophomore Ashley Carr put the visitors on top and Nelson converted a man-up opportunity with 7:45 on the clock. The teams traded free position goals, the Foresters' by sophomore Cass Barbera, and the final score of the first half went to the Cardinals and trimmed the Forester advantage to 6-5.
Doctor, Nelson, and Graham each scored first the second time in the game during the first six minutes of the third quarter. Doctor completed her eighth career hat trick and freshmen Daulath Khan and Emma Sharp scored their first career goals later in the period, which ended with the Foresters leading 12-8.
The first seven minutes of the fourth quarter featured six North Central goals, including three on free position shots, and neither team scored in the final eight minutes. The Cardinals outshot the Foresters 11-5 and just two of the visitors' attempts were on target in the final period.
Sophomore Krissy Kuwahara led all players in the contest with eight draw controls and five ground balls.
Lake Forest will play its home opener against Bethel College (Indiana) next Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.
