SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Saint Michael's College women's ice hockey team fell by a 4-0 count to nationally-ranked Lake Forest (Ill.) College during non-conference play at Cairns Arena Wednesday evening. The Purple Knights, who last played Dec. 5, are 3-7-1 on the season, while the Foresters improve to 11-1-1. Lake Forest, a qualifier of the last two NCAA Tournaments, is third in both Division III national polls. Wednesday's meeting was the first-ever contest between the squads.

Saint Michael's junior Carolyn Avery (Lexington, Mass./Lexington) went 10-for-17 on faceoffs, while classmate Tori Hubbard (Saint Albans, Vt./BFA-Saint Albans) won seven draws. Junior Abby Burke (Bedford, Mass./The Rivers School) made 34 stops for her fourth 30-save outing of the season.

Senior Michelle Greeneway (Sheboygan, Wis./Madison Capitols) scored twice for Lake Forest, with sophomores Leah Ebdon (Delhi, Ontario/Brantford Midget AA) and Kayla Griffith (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) both chipping in goals. Sophomore Olivia Spellmire (Bloomington, Minn./Bloomington Jefferson) provided two assists, while senior Holly Lesperance (Waukesha, Wis./Madison Capitols) and sophomores Melissa Bodine (Sewickley, Pa./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) and Amanda Brunges (Jenison, Mich./Honeybaked) and first-year Amy Budde (Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes) each contributing a helper. First-year Abby Cooper (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) turned in a 14-save shutout.

Brunges clanged a shot off the right post before Greeneway was denied by Burke on back-to-back shots within the game's opening minute. The visitors were then kept scoreless as sophomore Caroline Campbell (Plymouth, Mich./Honeybaked) saw her slot shot gloved by Burke at 4:20. Purple Knight senior Amanda Kempainen's (Chazy, N.Y./Chazy Flyers U19) uncontested bid from low in the right circle was gobbled up by Cooper 1:08 later. Lake Forest broke through with its first goal at 15:03 as Brunges soft-touched a pass to Ebdon, who punched in the puck from the right side. Greeneway scored with 38 seconds left in the first period to give the Foresters a 2-0 lead as she jammed in the puck after receiving an end-board pass from Budde.

Saint Michael's killed off an early second-period penalty thanks to a trio of blocked shots and three Burke saves. Purple Knight junior Sarah Bagley (Concord, Mass./Concord-Carlisle) had her left-circle shot turned away by Cooper at 5:20 before Greeneway hit the left post just three minutes later. Lake Forest took a 3-0 lead as Spellmire fed a one-timer from behind the net to Greeneway, who potted the score at 16:38.

Neither side was able to capitalize on early third-period power plays. Avery's shot from the right circle was gloved by Cooper at 10:19 before Griffith scored the Foresters' final goal at 11:41. After receiving a pass from Spellmire, Griffith scooted down the right side, deked once and backhanded a shot into the open left side. Greeneway was denied on her hat-trick bid with a glove stop by Burke at 15:35.

Saint Michael's hosts the 11th annual DoubleTree Ice Hockey Classic on Friday and Saturday, beginning with a 7 p.m. contest on the opening night against Hamilton College.