Lake Forest College Women's Soccer News & Notes September 12, 1999        Contact:  Scott Rucker, SID  FORESTERS OPEN SEASON WITH A SPLIT ON THE ROAD      Playing with a line-up that featured just one senior and a freshman at goalkeeper, the defending MWC regular season champion Lake Forest women's soccer team opened their 1999 campaign with a split at Ripon (W, 3-1) and Carroll (L, 0-2). Head Coach T.R. Bell regarded the season's opening weekend as a chance to see how his young squad would respond to their first live action of 1999. "I wanted to see what we had and we tried a lot of different people at several different positions," commented Bell. "Overall, I was pleased with how we played, but we have plenty of room for improvement. For one, we need to get in game shape."       The Foresters, who won their season opener for just the second time in the last eight seasons, jumped out to a 2-1 lead at halftime versus Ripon and used a 19-9 shot advantage to secure their first win. Junior Kim Sponsel (San Diego, CA/Mira Mesa High School) started the new season where she left off in 1998. Last year's leading scorer scored two goals and Nicole Walter (Glenview, IL/Glenbrook South High School) added the other (assisted by Brandi Monroe (Punta Gorda, FL/Lockport Township, IL), a converted keeper). Freshman keeper Rachel LaFin (Glen Elyn, IL/Glenbard West) stopped four shots on goal to record her first collegiate win in her first start.       Despite numerous opportunities against Carroll, the Foresters could not force a goal across and fell 2-0 to the same team that upset them in and went on to win last year's MWC Championship Tournament. "All weekend we had plenty of chances," Bell added. "We were creating opportunities, but not capitalizing. But overall it was a good weekend."       Lake Forest will begin the home half of their schedule on Thursday, September 16th when the face North Central, whom the defeated 2-0 last season, at 4:30 p.m.