Foresters Unable to Hold on to Second Half Lead at Illinois Tech

Photo by Otto Baumann
Photo by Otto Baumann

The Lake Forest College women's soccer team was defeated 3-2 at Illinois Institute of Technology on Saturday, despite leading for most of the contest.

Freshman Anna Hoffman put the visitors on top less than 10 minutes into the contest. An Illinois Tech foul set up the Foresters just outside the top of the box and the free kick from senior Alyssa Xanos was popped up in from of the goal by freshman Anna Gracia. Hoffman was there to head it in for her second score of the season.

Lake Forest's 1-0 advantage lasted more than 51 minutes before the home team finally got on the scoreboard at the 60:34 mark.

Graduate student Hiwa Brown regained the lead for the Foresters 10 minutes later. The officials called for a hydration break with 19:30 remaining in the contest. The throw-in to restart play went to Brown just right of the box and she took the ball around the defense before blasting a shot past the Scarlet Hawk goalkeeper. It was Brown's second goal of the year.

Illinois Tech, however, came back and tied the score again three minutes later and netted what proved to be the game-winner six minutes after that. The Foresters had a few scoring opportunities late in the game but were unable to draw even.

Lake Forest was out-shot 24-8 in the contest but maintained a lead for most of the game thanks in part to six saves in 60 minutes by senior Maggie Kersting. Freshman Joanna Aslanidas added three saves, including two difficult ones soon after entering the contest.

The Foresters fell to 2-2-1 on the season while Illinois Tech improved to 3-1-0.

Lake Forest will host Carroll University Tuesday afternoon at 4:30.