The Lake Forest College women's hockey team posted a 6-1 victory over visiting Marian University Saturday afternoon in the regular season finale for both programs. Forester senior Morgan Pope finished the game with a career-high four points on two goals and two assists.
Pope started the scoring at the 3:17 mark of the opening period with assists credited to senior defenseman Erin Shamley and freshman freshman forward Amanda Brunges. The Sabres, however, tied the score exactly a minute later and the teams played scoreless hockey for the rest of the period.
Pope netted what proved to be the game-winner whie on the power play at 7:21 in the second. Her ninth goal of the season was set up by junior forwards Michelle Greeneway and Holly Lesperance. Pope and junior defenseman Alex Stensland assisted Brunges at 14:37 to make the score 3-1 and senior forward Marissa Weber closed out the period's scoring at 19:37 off an assist from sophomore forward Allie Girard.
Senior forward Emily Wybo netted her eighth score of the season at the 4:42 mark of the third period and Lesperance picked up her team-high 16th assist of the year on the play. Weber added her second goal of the game and ninth this year at 19:25. Pope matched Lesperance's season total for assists and Shamley also helped set up the score.
Forester junior goaltender Allie Carter made 22 saves in the game to even her record on the season at 6-6-2. She also improved her save percentage this year to .913 and goals against average to 2.07.
Lake Forest put 43 shots on goal to the Sabres' 23 in the contest.
The Foresters finished the regular season with a 12-8-3 overall record and a Northern Collegiate Hockey Association mark of 11-5-2. Marian is now 6-17-2 overall and 4-13-1 in the league.
Although Lake Forest and St. Norbert College finished tied for second place in the NCHA standings, the Foresters' 2-1-0 record against the Green Knights this season gave them the tiebreaker edge and a bye in the NCHA Slaats Cup Playoff quarterfinals next weekend.
