(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 27)—The McKendree University hockey team was defeated at home Saturday afternoon by the gold team from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, 8-2. The match was played at the U.S. Ice Sports Complex in Fairview Heights.

 

The Bearcats fell behind 3-0 and could not catch up as the visiting Cougars completed a weekend sweep. McKendree, now 6-4 on the year, will be on the road next weekend for a two-game series against Northern Illinois University. McKendree will play the Huskies Friday at 9 p.m. at the Leafs Ice Center in West Dundee, Ill.

 

Against SIU-Edwardsville, McKendree trailed by three before junior center Charlie Donze (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) netted a power-play goal with assists from senior wing Nick Dreyer (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) and junior defenseman Chris Donahue (Levittown, Pa./Truman) (Levittown, Pa./Truman). The goal five minutes into the second period brought the Bearcats within 3-1.

 

The Cougars then scored four more times to build a 7-1 cushion when freshman wing Nick Smothers (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) registered a short-handed goal for the Bearcats’ final tally of the afternoon.

 

Sophomore Mike Stier (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) had a busy afternoon in taking the loss for McKendree. SIU-Edwardsville recorded 56 shots on goal, with Stier making 48 saves for the Bearcats.