(LEBANON, Ill., Dec. 3)—The McKendree University hockey team used a three-goal third period to break a tie and pull away for an 8-6 victory Friday at home against Eastern Illinois University.

 

Junior defenseman Chris Donahue (Levittown, Pa./Truman) (Levittown, Pa./Truman) broke a 5-5 tie with a power-play goal seven minutes into the third period to give the Bearcats the lead for good. The win was the fifth in a row for McKendree, which improves to 12-5 overall. The Bearcats will host Eastern Illinois again Saturday at 3 p.m. at the U.S. Ice Sports Complex in Fairview Heights.

 

Donahue had two goals on the night, one of three Bearcat players to scores twice against the Panthers. Senior wing Nick Dreyer (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) and freshman wing Nick Smothers (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) also tallied two goals in the win.

 

Eastern Illinois jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the second period before McKendree started to rally. Goals by Dreyer and Smothers helped trim the deficit to 3-2 before the Panthers were able to regain a 4-2 advantage midway through the period.

 

McKendree then roared back with three straight goals to grab a 5-4 lead. Junior center Charlie Donze (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) started the comeback at the 9:37 mark before wing Brian Neighbors (Belleville, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Belleville, Ill./Althoff Catholic) tied the game at 4-4 on an even-strength goal moments later.

 

Donahue gave McKendree its first lead of the night at the 4:18 mark with assists from Donze and senior center Scott Roberts (Philadelphia, Pa./Bensalem) (Philadelphia, Pa./Bensalem). Eastern Illinois tied the game once again at 5-5 in the final minute of the stanza. Roberts and Donze each had three assists for the Bearcats.

 

Senior Ryan Ahlemeyer (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) made 33 saves to pick up his first victory of the season in goal for McKendree.