The Forester men's hockey team edged out the hosts 5-4 Saturday afternoon in the semifinals of the Skidmore Thanksgiving Invitational.

The first four goals of the game, including three for the visitors, were scored during a six-minute span of the opening period. Lake Forest junior Colin Bella struck at the 8:53 mark firing a shot from the top of the right circle into the left side of the net. It was Bella's team-high sixth goal of the year. The Forester lead doubled at the 11:09 mark when a shot from the top of the left circle by fellow junior forward Justin Ross provided the only power play goal of the contest. He now has four goals on the season.

Skidmore got on the scoreboard just 65 seconds later but Lake Forest's two-goal advantage was restored at the 14:51 mark. Sophomore forward Hayden Riva;s first shot was saved by the Skidmore goalie but he sent in the rebound for his first score of the season.

The 3-1 Forester lead lasted until mid-way through the second period when another four-goal flurry began. The first two came from the Thoroughbreds, tying the game at three with 6:09 on the clock.

Just 19 seconds passed before Lake Forest regained the lead on senior forward Tyler Buonopane's third goal of the year. It was another rebound goal after fellow senior forward Jared Gerger's pass found Ross between the circles but Ross's shot was saved by the Skidmore goalie.

The final goal of the period came from senior forward Qaritaq Kusugak-Clark with 2:33 remaining. He took a pass from Gerger behind the net and back-handed the puck into the right side of the goal from between the circles.

Kusugak-Clark's first goal of the year also turned out to be his first career game-winner when Skidmore pulled the goalie and closed to within one with 3:06 to play in the game.

Forester senior goaltender Bobby McCloskey's 32nd and final save of the day came with 10 seconds remaining and secured the victory.

Lake Forest is now 3-5-1 and Skidmore 5-3-0 this season.

The Foresters advance to Saturday's 4:00 p.m. (ET) championship game against the winner of Friday's other semifinal between Hamilton College and Fredonia State University.