The Lake Forest College women's hockey team captured the first Northern Collegiate Hockey Association championship in program history Friday night (Februsry 19) by defeating visiting Concordia University Wisconsin 3-1. The Foresters are now 16-2-4 overall on the season and 10-1-4 in NCHA play. The Falcons fell to 9-12-3 overall and 5-8-2 in the league.

After a slow start, Lake Forets lit the lamp twice late in the first period. Junior Lynn Switaj (Avon Lake, Ohio/Ohio Flames) started the scoring at 13:20. Her 10th goal of the season was assisted by classmate Sam Herron (Clinton Township, Mich./Victory Honda) and sophomore Kim Herring (Dover, N.H./Groton School). Herring then broke the team record with her 23rd goal of the year at 17:04. Switaj assisted on the score.

After nearly 40 minutes of scoreless hockey, Concordia Wisconsin converted a power play opportunity at 16:26 to pull to within a goal and put the Foresters' potential conference championship celebration in doubt. The home team however, scored its own power play goal at 18:15. It was junior Melissa Kravich's (Wilmette, Ill./Gustavus Adolphus College) 10th score of the season and the Foresters' program record 89th goal of the year. Herring recorded her team-high 16th assist on the play and extended her single-season team record point total to 39.

Lake Forest junior goaltender Alyssa Wintermute (Belmont, Ontario/St. Thomas Panthers) stopped 18 of 19 shots on goal to raise her record on the year to 9-1-4 and save percentage to .915. She also became the winningest goalie in team history with 28th victory of her career.

The same two teams will face off agains in Lake Forest at 2:00 tomorrow afternoon. The Foresters' Senior Day contest will include the presentation of the first annual Ryann "Ry" McCarthy Award.