The Lake Forest College women's hockey team is hosting Aurora University this weekend in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Slaats Cup Playoffs and the visitors came out on top 3-2 in overtime in the series opener.

The Spartans out-shot the Foresters 14-5 in the opening period and the home team had a 15-4 advantage in that category in the second. Lake Forest also scored the game's first goal in the second when sophomore forward Jasmine Kohl's shot slid though traffic in front of the net, under the goalie, and into the goal at the 12:02 mark. Fellow sophomore forwards Victoria Liu and Tallulah Bryant were credited with assists on the power play score.

It remained a 1-0 game until the visitors finally got on the scoreboard six minutes into the third.

The Foresters regained the lead at 10:24 on sophomore forward Ella Maher's team-high 11th goal of the season. Junior forward Macy Gehrke took away the puck behind the Aurora goal and centered a pass to senior forward Zoey Whittingon between the circles. Whittington's shot was saved but Maher was there to put in the rebound and put her team back on top.

The lead lasted just three minutes, however, as the Spartans converted a power play opportunity with 6:41 to play in regulation.

Aurora put a dozen shots on goal to Lake Forest's nine in the third period and the visitors scored the game-winner on their fourth attempt in overtime.

The Foresters fell to 12-11-3 while Aurora improved to 10-13-3 this season.

The teams will face off in game two of the series Saturday at 5:00 p.m. A Lake Forest victory would force a 20-minute minigame to decide which team advances to next weekend's semifinals.