(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 27)—The McKendree University hockey team saw its win streak snapped at four games as the Bearcats were tripped up Friday at home by Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, 5-3.

 

The visiting Cougar gold squad netted a pair of third-period goals to pull away for the win. McKendree slips to 6-3 overall and will host SIU-Edwardsville again Saturday at 3 p.m. in Fairview Heights.

 

In Friday’s contest, the Cougars jumped out to a 2-0 lead before McKendree battled back. Junior defenseman Stephen Lee (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) scored with just 1:40 left in the first period to cut the Bearcats’ deficit in half. McKendree tied the game at 2-2 early in the second period when freshman wing Nick Smothers (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) notched his fourth goal of the season.

 

After the Cougars regained a 3-2 advantage, junior defenseman Chris Donahue (Levittown, Pa./Truman) (Levittown, Pa./Truman) posted his first goal of the season midway through the second period. The contest remained tied until SIU-Edwardsville scored twice in the final nine minutes to pull away for the win.

 

Junior Marc Power (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon) was nicked for his first loss of the season. Power registered 31 saves for the Bearcats.