A shorthanded goal in the third period proved to be the difference Saturday night as Lake Forest dropped a 3-2 decision in the regular season finale at Concordia University Wisconsin.
The home team got on the scoreboard first at the 4:44 mark of the opening period but the Foresters evened the score with 2:05 remaining. The equalizer was freshman forward David Cohen's ninth of the season and he was assisted by senior defenseman Connor Duncan and junior forward Kyler Magus.
The visitors went ahead just 44 seconds into the second stanza on the sixth goal of the year for sophomore forward Kyle Cote. Senior forward Austin Aksoy and junior defenseman Mark DerManulian set up the score.
The 2-1 lead lasted less than seven minutes and the Falcons netted the game-winner at the 6:47 mark of the third.
Despite out-shooting the home team in all three periods and by a 48-29 margin in the contest, the Foresters were unable to even the score.
Lake Forest is now 17-5-3 overall this season and the team finished second in the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association standings at 14-4-2 in the league. It is the best conference record in program history. Saturday's game was the last of the year for the Falcons, who finished 12-11-2 overall and 8-10-2 in NCHA play.
The Foresters will host Trine University next weekend in the quarterfinals of the NCHA Harris Cup Playoffs. The teams will face off Friday night at 7:30 and Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
