The Lake Forest College women's soccer team escaped with a 4-3 double-overtime victory at Benedictine University Wednesday night (October 14). The Foresters raised their record on the season to 7-6-0 while the Eagles fell to 2-10-0.
Forester freshman Lisa Sorensen (Muskegon, Mich./Western Michigan Christian) scored the only goal of the first half 15 minutes and 47 seconds into the contest. Lake Forest out-shot the home team 11-3 in the period but led by just one at halftime.
Benedictine tied the game 10 minutes into the second half but
the visitors regained the lead on freshman Becky Esrock's (St.
Louis, Mo./Whitfield School) team-high 13th goal of the year at
63:30. She was assisted by sophomore Caroline Stearns (Bexley,
Ohio/Bexley). Lake Forest extended its lead to two goals on
Sorensen's second tally of the contest at 79:00. Junior Bianca Greene (Santa Monica, Calif./Santa Monica) earned the assist, her
team-high 11th of the year.
The Eagles pulled to within a goal with five minutes remaining in
regulation and tied the score with just 29 seconds left on the
clock.
The Foresters out-shot Benedictine 10-8 in the second half and both
teams attempted a pair of shots in the first 10-minute overtime
period. Lake Forest surrendered just one shot in the second
overtime while getting off five, including four on goal. The final
attempts came off the foot of Sorensen and sailed over the
goalkeeper and under the crossbar for the game-winner with just 55
seconds left in the game. It was Sorensen's second game-winning
goal and 11th score overall this season. It was also her first
career hat trick.
Lake Forest freshman goalkeeper Bri Schleibinger (Spring Grove,
Ill./Richmond Burton) recorded six saves in the game, including one
in the second overtime, to earn the victory.
"While it wasn't our best effort," admitted head coach T.R. Bell,
"I'm happy we came away with the win. Benedictine battled the
entire game and we needed every minute to finish the job."
The Foresters will play their final non-conference game of the
regular season next Tuesday (October 20) against visiting Dominican
University. The contest will begin at 4:00 p.m.