The Lake Forest defense stood tall in the second half to help secure a 1-0 victory over Saint Mary's College.
The Belles had the first chance of the game within five minutes, launching a shot from outside of the box that goalkeeper
Sara Swenson gathered for her first save of the afternoon. The Foresters found the net in the 18th minute as
Maggie Balas picked up possession from the Belles' center back and slotted the ball into the bottom-left corner to give Lake Forest a 1-0 lead.
Following the goal, the home side stepped up and found another chance, forcing Swenson into a save to her right. Lake Forest was inches away from a second goal in the 30th minute, as
Annabelle Schroeder struck the left post on a shot from the right side of the box. The Foresters continued to pin the Belles in their defensive half, but could not find another goal as the game went to halftime with Lake Forest leading 1-0.
The Foresters continued the offensive push in the second half. In the first 10 minutes of the frame, shots from Schroeder and
Keighan Whitlock missed above the goal. In the 76th minute the Foresters hit the woodwork again as Balas lifted a shot from distance onto the bottom of the crossbar.
In the final minutes of the game, Saint Mary's lifted a cross that
Maddie Geasey claimed through traffic, and the Foresters claimed a 1-0 victory. The clean sheet marked Lake Forest's eighth shutout of the season, and 31st shutout in the last three seasons.
Next up for the Foresters is the first Midwest Conference home game of the season, as Lake Forest hosts Illinois College on September 29. Kickoff at Mohr Field is set for 4 p.m.
