The Forester men's hockey team began 2026 with a 8-4 loss at Augsburg College Friday night.
 
The home team took the lead just 79 seconds into the game and converted a power play opportunity at the 12:46 mark for the only other goal of the opening period.
 
After the margin grew to three just 53 seconds into the second stanza, Lake Forest finally got on the scoreboard on a backhanded breakaway goal by freshman forward Christopher O'Flaherty less than four minutes later. It was the team-high eighth of the season for O'Flaherty.
 
Less than two minutes passed before the Auggies regained their three-goal advantage and another tally with 90 seconds remaining in the period gave them a 5-1 lead going into the third.
 
The third period also featured an early goal, as senior forward Colin Bella put in a rebound after just 42 seconds.
 
The Auggies' lead continued to fluctuate between three and four throughout the final period. Their goal at 4:17 was answered by Forester senior forward Logan Kittleson's third of the year less than two minutes later. Augsburg struck again midway through the period and Bella overtook O'Flaherty for the team lead with his ninth of 2025-26 at 11:54. It was also Bella's 14^th career power play goal, tying him for fourth in program history just three shy of the record.
 
Augsburg closed out the scoring with 2:49 on the clock and finished the contest with a slight 29-26 edge in shots on goal and 30-29 advantage in faceoff wins.
 
Lake Forest fell to 4-8-1 while Augsburg improved to 4-6-2. The same two teams will face off again Saturday afternoon at 4:00.