Sophomore center Scott Roberts (Philadelphia, Pa./Bensalem) (Philadelphia, Pa.) registered a hat trick, while freshman center Charlie Donze (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Fairview Heights, Ill.) and freshman wing Nick Dreyer (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) (Waterloo, Ill.) each added two goals as the Bearcats improved to 7-12-1 on the year. McKendree will finish its northern road trip Saturday with a game against Northwestern University.

      Donze’s first goal was part of a four-goal outburst for McKendree in the first period. Roberts followed with his first of the night as freshman wings Z.T. Evans (Columbia, Ill.) and Zach Crawford (Springfield, Ill./Pleasant Plains) (Springfield, Ill.) each added a goal in the period. Roberts completed his hat trick with a pair of goals in the first five minutes of the second period to push the Bearcats’ lead to 6-0.

      After Wheaton rallied to within 6-2 midway through the period, Dreyer and Donze each scored to extend the McKendree lead back to 8-2. Dreyer tallied his second goal of the night early in the third period, and junior defenseman David Padgett (Belleville, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Belleville, Ill.) closed out the scoring with just over 11 minutes to play.

      Sophomore wing Kyle Ilges (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill.) collected a team-high four assists for McKendree, while Donze and junior center Brad Maggio (Collinsville, Illinois/) (Collinsville, Ill.) each added two assists.

      Sophomore Matt Brandt (Waterloo, Illinois/) (Waterloo, Ill.) made 39 saves to earn his first victory of the season in goal for the Bearcats.

-McK-