(FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill., Jan. 19)—Playing its first game in 41 days, the McKendree College hockey team dropped a 7-4 decision Friday at the hands of Robert Morris College-Springfield. The game was played at the U.S. Ice Sports Complex in Fairview Heights.

 

Junior center Scott Roberts (Philadelphia, Pa./Bensalem) (Philadelphia, Pa./Bensalem) tallied two goals and an assist for the Bearcats, but the visiting Eagles put the game away with two late goals. McKendree slips to 11-9 on the year and will host Robert Morris-Springfield again Saturday at 3 p.m.

 

Roberts’ first goal opened the scoring in the first period before Robert Morris-Springfield answered with the next three goals to grab a 3-1 lead. Sophomore center Nick Dreyer (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) scored on the power play to trim the deficit to 3-2 late in the second period.

 

The Eagles regained a 5-3 advantage in the third period before goals by senior wing Brian Neighbors (Belleville, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Belleville, Ill./Althoff Catholic) and Roberts brought McKendree within 5-4 with 5:49 to play. However, Robert Morris-Springfield scored a pair of shorthanded goals in the last 2:19 to pull out the win.

 

Junior Ryan Ahlemeyer (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) made 34 saves in taking the loss in goal for the Bearcats.