Overtime Win Puts Scouts in State Final

A group of teenage girls wearing Lake Forest hockey uniforms arrived at the Edge in Bensenville Tuesday and played half a game against Loyola Academy for the right to compete for a state championship Sunday at the United Center.

to turn a 2-0 deficit halfway through the second period into a 3-2 overtime victory catapaulting Lake Forest in the championship game for the third straight year. The team now has the opportunity to make it two titles in three seasons.

Earlier: Captain’s Email Inspires Scouts’ State Girls’ Hockey Crown

“It took a little while but our experience made the difference. The veterans led the way. They led by example,” Coach Liz Zorn said. “It was a wakeup call,” she added about the way the Ramblers dominated the first half of the game keeping the puck near the Scouts goal much of the time.

Everything changed after the second Rambler goal made it 2-0 with 4:58 left in the second period. That is when the Scouts found themselves keeping the puck away from their end of the rink making the score 2-1 when Willa DeBoom found the net on an assist from Anna Bleck.

No one personified the turnaround better than Caroline Knop. Her first goal tied the contest with 1:42 remaining with assists from Hannah Conroy and Bridget Roche to send the game into overtime. Less than two minutes into sudden death Knop had the game winner on an assist from Bleck.

“She was going to shoot it in or she was going to will the puck into the net,” Zorn said of Knop’s two goals. “A lot of good offense put her in the right place. There was a lot of hard work.”

For Knop winning the game was about expectation. The Lake Forest High School junior has always ended her season on United Center ice. To her high school hockey for the Scouts is synonymous with competing in the championship game. Yet, tying and then winning the semifinal was special.

“My adrenaline was through the roof,” Knop said. “I didn’t know it went in and then my teammates were all over me and we were all so excited,” she added describing the winning moment.”

Lake Forest meets Fenwick at 12:30 p.m. Sunday for the state title at the United Center.

For complete Lake Forest News, sign up for our free newsletter,"like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.