Six different players scored as the Forester women's soccer team defeated Ripon College 6-1 at home on Saturday. Lake Forest freshman Kayla Wuest netted the official game-winning goal for the second time in the last three contests.
Lake Forest fell behind early after a miscommunication between goalkeeper and defender gave the Red Hawks an opportunity they converted just 93 seconds into the game.
The Foresters tied the score just three minutes later when senior Michele Giurovici's free kick from 30 yards out sailed over the Ripon goalie's outstretched arms and into the top-left corner of the goal. It was Giurovici's first goal of the season.
Wuest gave the Foresters the lead at the 9:21 mark on her third score of the season. She receivde a pass from junior Holly Lesperance on the left side and used her left foot t loft the ball over the goalie and into the right side of the goal.
The Foresters added to their lead just 20 seconds later. Junior Sam Hillis was credited with the score after her long pass into the box from the left sideline was misplayed by the Ripon goalie and trickled into the goal.
Wuest set up the home team's next goal at 12:27. She dribbled between two defenders on the left side of the box and crossed it into traffic. The Ripon goalie got her hands on the ball but was unable to control it, leaving sophomore Nina Perkkio free to kick in her first goal of the year.
The scoring barrage continued at the 16:40 mark when junior Michelle Greeneway beat two defenders on the righ side and crossed the ball to Lesperance, who used her left foot to score for the fifth time this season.
Lesperance returned the favor to Greeneway for the final goal of the game at 25:05. A goal kick from the Ripon goalie was headed forward from Lesperance out in front of Greeneway and she kicked in her team-high 11th goal of the year from 15 yards out. The score also tied Greeneway with Nicole Tarandy (1987-90) for second place in program history with 52 career goals. Melissa Stevenson is the Foresters' all-time leader with 54 scores.
Lake Forest had a 14-1 edge in shots in the first half but were out-shot 8-6 in the final 45 minutes.
Forester sophomore goalkeeper Rachel Tenuta made four saves in the scoreless second half to earn the victory, raising her recod on the season to 4-0-0.
Lake Forest, ranked 25th in the nation by D3soccer.com and off to the best start in team history, is now 8-0-0 on the year. Ripon fell to 4-3-0 overall in the Midwest Conference opener for both teams.
The Foresters will continue league play against Carroll University at home on Wednesday. The game will begin at 4:30 p.m.
