Freshman forward Marissa Gebauer scored a pair of goals Friday as Lake Forest hosted and defeated Concordia University Wisconsin 3-2.
Gebauer's first score of the game broke a 1-1 tie at the 16:27 mark of the second period. She was assisted by senior forward Maddie Davis.
Gebauer struck again at the 8:09 mark of the third period. Her seventh goal of the season was set up by sophomore defenseman Olyvia Opsahl and turned out to be the official game-winner when the Falcons, with an extra attacker, closed to within one with 28.6 seconds on the clock.
Concordia Wisconsin had taken the early lead at the 2:02 mark of the opening period and the Foresters drew even on freshman forward Kelly McCullough's third of the season at 7:24. Freshman defenseman Iman Shepard assisted on the play.
Lake Forest was out-shot 11-9 in the game's first 20 minutes but had a 23-17 advantage in that category the rest of the way.
Forester senior goaltender Jacque Rogers made 26 saves in the contest and earned her 11th victory against six losses this season.
Lake Forest improved to 14-9-1 overall and 11-3-1 in Northern Collegiate Hockey Association play. The win, coupled with Aurora University's loss at St. Norbert College later in the evening, clinched the #2 seed for the Foresters in the 2020 NCHA Slaats Cup Playoffs, which will begin next weekend. Concordia Wisconsin, a possible opponent for Lake Forest in the quarterfinal round, is now 8-13-2 overall and 7-7-1 in the league.
The same two teams will close out the regular season in Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon at 2:00. It will le Lake Forest's Senior Day and Alumni Day and the Ry McCarthy Award will be presented between the first and second periods.
