For the second consecutive season, Lake Forest women's soccer started the year with three wins after defeating Benedictine 6-0.
After a back-and-forth first 25 minutes, Lake Forest found its clearest chance of the game when
Lola Halsband broke free on the right side. The Benedictine goalkeeper denied her first chance, and the follow-up went wide. However, that opportunity kicked off more offense for the Foresters, as
Veronica Presberg and
Maggie Balas found shots of their own in the minutes that followed.
Annabelle Schroeder scored for Lake Forest in the 30th minute of play, capitalizing on a breakaway after an Eagles turnover. At the end of the first half, the score remained 1-0 for the visitors.
Ten minutes after the break, the Foresters had another great look in front of goal. Again, it was the Benedictine goalkeeper making a sliding stop to deny a Forester goal. Lake Forest did eventually get a second, as a ball rolled in by Presberg found Schroeder for her second goal of the match. The pair combined again a minute and a half later, but this time with Presberg on the finishing end to give the Foresters a 3-0 lead.
Anna Diebold got on the scoresheet for Lake Forest in the 69th minute, lifting a ball into the roof of the net after a clearance error by the Eagles. In the 75th minute, Presberg scored again after launching a free kick from 35 yards out that bounced over the Benedictine goalkeeper.
Lily VanPelt found the net for Lake Forest in the 89th minute, scoring off a rebound from outside of the box. The senior's first collegiate goal pushed the final score to 6-0, with Forester goalkeepers
Sara Swenson and
Maddie Geasey combining for a second consecutive shutout.
The Foresters are at home twice this week, with a Thursday afternoon match against Concordia University Chicago and a Saturday afternoon tilt against St. Norbert College.
