Lake Forest stuns Women's Hockey with late goal in Slaats Cup Final

ADRIAN, Mich. – The Concordia University Wisconsin's impressive run in the Slaats Cup Playoffs came to an end Saturday as the Falcons fell in the finals against Lake Forest. The Foresters scored with three seconds left to stun the Falcons with a 2-1 final.

The loss concludes an outstanding season which saw CUW post its second most win in program history (12). The appearance in the NCHA Final was first for the Falcons, as they advanced after defeating top-seeded Adrian College Friday.

Sophomore Bridget Slater (Roseau, Minn.) had another strong game, recording a career-best 44 saves, marking the second straight day in which she set a new career high. She had 41 in yesterday's win over Adrian and was named the Slaats Cup Playoffs MVP. Joining Slater on the All-Tournament team was Chelsea Regan (Oakdale, Minn.).

It was Michelle Greeneway who netted the game-winning goal for the Foresters that secured them the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Morgan Pope and Melissa Paluch assisted on the game-winner.

The Falcons took a 1-0 lead 4:34 into the game on a goal scored by sophomore Brittany Sticha (Lonsdale, Minn.). Sticha's score was assisted by sophomores Brandi Muller (Anchorage, Alaska) and Nicole Krumwiede (Itasca, Ill.).

That would be the only scoring for CUW the rest of the way as Allie Carter finished with 20 saves for the Foresters. Lake Forest outshot the Falcons by a 46-21 margin, but Slater's tremendous play between the pipes kept the Falcons in the contest. She made 16 saves in the first period and stopped 18 shots in thes second, allowing only one goal over the first 40 minutes. Allie Girard had a power play score for Lake Forest 9:21 into the second period to tie the game.

The two teams combined for just four penalties on Saturday, with the Falcons being whistled for three of the four. CUW was 0-for-1 on the power play, while Lake Forest converted on one of three chances with the advantage.

The shots in the final period were 11-8 in favor of Lake Forest. The Falcons had just four shots on goal in the second, while tallying nine in the opening frame.

Joining Slater and Regan on the All-Tournament Team was Greeneway, Paluch, Carter and Alex Stensland of Lake Forest and Lauren Roethlisberger of St. Norbert.