LAKE FOREST, Ill. — After opening its season with a pair of exhibition wins last weekend, the Saint Mary's University women's hockey team "official" kicked off its 2022-23 campaign Friday night.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the end result wasn't as favorable this time around.
Lake Forest scored the game's final two goals — one early in the second period and another late in the third — as the Foresters dealt Saint Mary's a 4-2 nonconference setback at Alumni Memorial Arena.
The Cardinals did not have to wait long to record their first goal of the season, as
Kas Kingston (Black Diamond, Alberta) found the back of the net just 58 seconds into the opening period.
And while the Cardinals netted their first goal of 2022-23 in the first minute of the frame, the Foresters waiting until the final minute of the period to knot the game at 1-1 on a goal by Anna McCluskey.
Both teams came out of the first-period intermission with their offenses shifted into high gear.
Lake Forest needed just 28 seconds to take its first lead of the game, 2-1, only to have Saint Mary's answer a minute later on a goal by
Anna Braun (Mantorville, Minn.).
That, however, would be the extent of the Cardinals' offense, while the Foresters would get goals from Lauren Wensel at 5:51 of the second period and an insurance tally by Marissa Gebauer with 3:31 remaining in the third to seal the victory.
Jordan Keeley (St. Peter, Minn.) finished with 34 saves in goal for the Cardinals — including 12 in both the first and third periods — while her counterpart, Hannah Turnage, made 17 saves in goal for the Foresters.
The Cardinals (0-1-0 overall) and Foresters will square off again on Saturday in the second game of their two-game nonconference series. Opening faceoff at Alumni Memorial Arena in Lake Forest, Ill., is slated for 4 p.m.
