For the second year in a row, the Forester women's lacrosse team prevailed at the College of Saint Benedict in the Midwest Lacrosse Conference Tournament final. Thanks fo a goal by freshman Eva Russell with just 26.9 seconds remaining, the Foresters came out on top 15-14 and are now headed to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

The NCAA Tourney selection show will be available on NCAA.com Monday morning at 9:30.

Saturday's game featured eight ties and four lead changes. The Foresters took the early when senior Ali Graham grabbed the opening draw and scored just 11 seconds into the contest. Graham led the visitors with five points on four goals and as assist and added a game-high nine draw controls.

After back-to-back goals by the Bennies, Lake Forest regained the lead with scores from sophomore Emma Sharp and senior Ryleigh Nelson. Saint Benedict pulled even again but junior Abby Meyer and freshman Ella Maher struck in the final 93 seconds of the opening quarter to give the Foresters a 5-3 advantage.

The lead reached 6-3 on Maher's second of the game and 12th this season but Saint Benedict battled back again and tied the score at six midway through the second quarter. Forester junior Krissy Kuwahara's 11th of the year put her team back on top and, after the Bennies drew even again, Russell accounted for the final tally of the half, giving Lake Forest an 8-7 lead at the break.

Sharp scored for the 28th time this spring just 26 seconds into the third quarter and Graham's second of the contest made it a 10-7 game just 70 seconds later. Five unanswered goals from Saint Benedict, including two just nine seconds apart, gave the home team a 12-10 lead but Graham finished the third quarter scoring anf start the fourth's to tie the score once again. She now has 43 goals on the season.

Nelson's second of the afternoon and 53rd this year was followed by junior Jenna Doctor's MLC-leading 75th and the Foresters were once again ahead by two. As was the case all game long, the lead was short-lived as the Bennies tied the score at 14 with 4:51 to play. 

The defenses stiffened at this point, forcing five consecutive turnovers, the last by Saint Benedict just over a minute to play. After a timeout, the Foresters ran the clock down under 30 seconds until Russell fired a shot past the goalie with just 26.9 seconds to play. Her ninth goal of the spring held up as a Bennie free position shot went wide and the home team was unable to get off another attempt.

Lake Forest sophomore goalie Cecilia Adams turned in her second 10-save performance of the week and was named MLC Tournament MVP. She also led the squad with five caused turnovers while Sharp finished with a team-high four ground balls.

The Foresters improved to 14-3 on the season while Saint Benedict finished the year 9-5.