(COLUMBIA, Mo., Sept. 9)—The McKendree College hockey team opened its 2006-07 season with a 9-4 loss Saturday on the road at the University of Missouri.

 

The host Tigers outscored the Bearcats 6-1 over the final two periods to earn the victory. McKendree, now 0-1 on the season, will be in Peoria, Ill., on Friday to face Bradley University. Face-off will be at 7 p.m.

 

The two teams traded goals throughout the first period, and the score was deadlocked at 3-3 after 20 minutes of play. Junior center Scott Roberts (Philadelphia, Pa./Bensalem) (Philadelphia, Pa.) had the first goal of the season for McKendree midway through the opening period on an assist from sophomore center/wing Nick Dreyer (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) (Waterloo, Ill.). Just two minutes later, Dreyer netted his first goal of 2006-07 with Roberts and junior wing Kyle Ilges (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill.) getting the assists.

 

Senior wing Brian Neighbors (Belleville, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Belleville, Ill.) capped the first-period scoring for the Bearcats on an unassisted goal with just under three minutes left. Missouri scored twice in the second period to grab a 5-3 lead, then put the game away with four goals in the final 20 minutes of action. Junior defenseman Shawn McBride (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) (Waterloo, Ill.) had the Bearcats’ final goal of the contest early in the third period.

 

Junior Ryan Ahlemeyer (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill.) and freshman Anthony Millatti (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) (Columbia, Ill.) split time in goal for McKendree. Ahlemeyer had 23 saves in taking the loss, while Millatti posted 12 saves.