Lake Forest claims title game

Updated: September 17, 2011 9:55PM

Katie Skinner didn’t give Lake Forest much of a chance Saturday in the championship game at Oak Park-River Forest’s invitational.

The senior said the Scouts were happy to be playing in the final against Sacred Heart (Ky.), the prohibitive tournament favorite.

But Lake Forest surprised itself with the victory over the Valkyries. Tied 1-all after regulation play, the Scouts topped Sacred Heart 3-2 in penalty strokes to take the title.

Lake Forest goalie Lina Trucco made the decisive save on Sacred Heart’s final shot and finished with 10 stops for the game.

“She’s always on the top of the game,” Skinner said of Trucco. “Without her we would be completely lost. She’s the rock of this team.”

Lake Forest went up early on Morgan Dever’s goal and held the lead into the half. Sacred Heart tied the game 10 minutes into the second half, and the Valkyries had multiple chances to go ahead late.

But Skinner, Trucco and the Scouts were dialed in on defense. Lake Forest stopped 12 of 13 corners in the game.

In penalty strokes, Dever, Jessica Staton and Kelsey Adams all scored.

“Such a great game,” said Lake Forest coach Melaine Walsh, whose team improved to 13-2-1 after going 5-0 at the tournament. “That team was touted as the big dogs of the tournament, so this was a huge accomplishment for us.”

Lake Forest advanced to the title game by beating Assumption, another Louisville-area club, 1-0 on Hallie Frain’s goal with less than three minutes to go in regulation.

The Scouts beat Mary Institute Country Day (Mo.), Mercy (Ky.) and Pioneer (Mich.) in pool play.

New Trier, the two-time defending state champs, went 2-1 in pool play, losing only to Sacred Heart 2-1. The Trevians, who tied Villa Duchesne 0-0 in the crossover game, also lost to the Valkyries earlier this season for their only two defeats this season. New Trier beat Lake Forest for last year’s state title.

“It’s been a topsy turvy year,” Walsh said. “It’s going to be a fun state tournament.”

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