November 22, 2011

SAINT PAUL (November 22, 2011) -- Lake Forest sophomore forward Maeve Connelly (Needham, Mass. / Brewster Academy) has been named Player of the Week in the NCHA Women's Conference for the week ending November 20th.  Connelly scored game-winning goals in each of the Foresters two victories last weekend.

Connelly put Lake Forest up 3-1 at 15:00 of the third period last Friday against UW-Eau Claire.  It was a cushion the Foresters would need, as the Blugolds cut the lead to 3-2 with under two minutes to play.  Lake Forest held on for the win.

Last Saturday afternoon Connelly scored the game-winner once again, and again it came in the third period.  The rematch with UW-Eau Claire was knotted 1-1 after 40:00; Connelly broke the tie on her first shift of the third.  The goal would spark the Foresters to pull away and complete the conference sweep.

200 for Cranston: UW-River Falls head coach Joe Cranston picked up his 200th career victory last Friday at UW-Stevens Point.  The 4-time NCHA Coach of the Year now owns a 200-102-30 career record.  Cranston is in his 13th season as head coach of the Falcons, having led the program since its start in 1999.

Forester D: With just three goals against last weekend, Lake Forest improved its season goals against average to 1.65, tops in the NCHA for all games played.  The Foresters have  recorded two shutouts and two games with one goal allowed.

Flooding the Ranks: The NCHA has three teams ranked in the latest national poll: UW-River Falls (5), Adrian (9) and UW-Superior (10).  And three others  - St. Scholastica, Lake Forest and UW-Stevens Point - received votes.

Waidacher Watch: Nina and Monika Waidacher of St. Scholastica have combined for 26 total points in 6 games played this year.  After big weekends against Finlandia, the sisters now are one-two in the NCHA in scoring.

Hat Trick for Rork: Adrian's Olivia Rork bagged a hat trick last Friday night in a 6-4 win over St. Norbert.  Rork now has six goals on the season.

Complete Release (pdf)