The Lake Forest College men's hockey team eeked out a 6-5 victory over visiting Finlandia University Friday night to begin the 2010-11 season. It was also the Foresters' Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association opener. Sophomore Tom Bark scored the home team's first goal of the season and assisted on a score later in the contest.
Bark's goal at the 11:22 mark of the opening period actually tied the game after Finlandia netted a power play score three minutes earlier. Sophomore David Sharpe and senior Zach Kozak assisted Bark.
The Foresters outshot the visitors 14-7 in the first period, which ended with the teams tied 1-1.
Lake Forest rattled off four unanswered goals in the first six minutes of the second. Junior Chad Thompson put the home team ahead for good at 1:16 with freshman Rob Caparelli picking up an assist. Senior Anthony Ventura doubled the Forester lead at 4:19 with assisted credited to sophomore Michael Rubino and freshman Kevin Spotts. Bark and sophomore Tyler Hauer assisted senior Jordan Cutler just 22 seconds later and freshman Craig McDowell finished off the run at the 5:35 mark. Junior Joel Gard assisted on McDowell's first career goal.
The Lions, however, responded with three goals of their own. The first was scored at the 8:04 mark and the visitors converted power play opportunities at 15:35 and 19:52.
The Foresters had a 15-8 advantage in shots on goal in the second period and both teams put 10 on target in the third.
Lake Forest sophomore Zak Borowski scored what turned out to be the official game-winning goal, the first of his career, two minutes and 28 seconds into the final period.
Finlandia pulled its goalie with 1:20 to play and it finally paid off with a goal with just nine ticks left on the clock. The Foresters then held on for the victory, the first for new head coach Seamus Gregory.
The Lions fell to 0-3-0 overall and in MCHA play.
The same two teams will take the ice again tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.
