The St. Catherine University hockey team hoped to open the 2015-16 on a positive note, but knew it would be difficult against one of the top teams in the nation facing No. 10-ranked Lake Forest College. Despite a career-high performance in goal from Abbi White (Wyoming, Minn./Lake Forest), the Wildcats couldn't overcome a slow first period in falling 5-0 to the Foresters Saturday evening in Lake Forest, Illinois.

"The slow start really hurt us," said Head Coach Brad Marshall. "The first 20 minutes wasn't in the plans at practice. Lake Forest played well, but our lack of execution is what really hurt us." 

 The Wildcats allowed three early goals in the first period and 15 shots to the Foresters who outshot the Wildcats 49-12 on the night. White kept the Wildcats in the game with 44 saves including 18 in the second period alone. 

The Foresters wasted no time getting on the board scoring just 1:12 into the game. They quickly built their lead to 2-0 just over two minutes later, before taking a 3-0 lead at the 7:02 mark. 

In the second period, the Wildcats managed to hold off the Foresters until they surrendered another goal with less than two minutes remaining in the second. The Foresters scored their fifth and final goal with less than 20 seconds remaining in the game. 

The Wildcats' offense was led by two shots on goal from senior defense Mallory Ryan (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) and Randi Fabsits (Tinley Park, Ill./Victor J. Andrew), as well as first-year forward Laken Muller (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) and returning junior Jordan Solheim (Thief River Falls, Minn./Thief River Falls). 

The Foresters will host the Wildcats for the second game of the series Sunday at 3 p.m. in Lake Forest. 

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