By: Moral victories don’t count for much, but the Lady Blues gave undefeated Lake Forest as much trouble as any team has this season in a 2-1 loss.
Box Score JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Lake Forest's march to an undefeated regular season may still be intact, but the Illinois College women's soccer team made sure that the Foresters at least hit some speed bumps along the way. A second half goal from
Bianca Savarese tied the match for the Lady Blues in the 71st minute and it appeared for a while that the match might require extra time before Lake Forest managed to score the game-winner in the 87th minute to run its record to 17-0-0 (9-0-0 Midwest Conference) on the season. IC slips to 9-5-1 (3-3-1 MWC) with the hard-luck 2-1 loss.
The Lady Blues shot out of the gate and nearly took the lead inside of three minutes when
Ashley Sholmire got on the end of a pass just ahead of Lake Forest's Rachel Tenuta. With Tenuta closing down her space, Sholmire quickly lifted a shot towards goal but it sailed high of the mark. A 21st minute score from Lake Forest was waved off for offside to keep the match level, but Holly Lesperance made it a 1-0 lead for the Foresters in the 29th minute with an individual effort through the teeth of the Illinois College defense.
Illinois College was also whistled for an offside early on in the second half that would have brought the team level, and the match remained where it was until Savarese knotted it up. Sholmire was the player causing the most trouble throughout the match for the Foresters, so it was no surprise that her low cross in from the right flank made its way through to Savarese for the junior midfielder to calmly finish past Tenuta to make it 1-1.
Lake Forest managed little in response after the goal and overtime seemed like it might be in the cards until the 87th minute. There, a Forester corner kick was well-taken by Sam Hillis and sent directly to the head of the MWC's leading goalscorer, Michelle Greeneway. Greeneway made no mistake and her 23rd goal of the season was the difference in the 2-1 win.
Savarese, Sholmire and
Sarah Skaggs each had two shots apiece in the match for IC. The Lady Blues collectively made eight saves, including two team saves to keep the Foresters out.
Illinois College returns to action on Oct. 25 with a 1:30 p.m. road match at Carroll University.
