(SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Jan. 18)—The McKendree University returned from its six-week holiday break with a 7-3 victory Friday night at Missouri State University.

 

Senior center Scott Roberts (Philadelphia, Pa./Bensalem) (Philadelphia, Pa./Bensalem) scored a pair of goals, while junior defenseman Chris Donahue (Levittown, Pa./Truman) (Levittown, Pa./Truman) added three assists to lead the way for the Bearcats. McKendree stretched its winning streak to nine consecutive games to improve to 16-5 on the year. The Bearcats and Missouri State will close out their weekend series Saturday at 7 p.m.

 

McKendree jumped in front quickly, building a 6-0 lead through one period of play. Roberts started the scoring with a power-play goal before junior wing Zach Crawford (Springfield, Ill./Pleasant Plains) (Springfield, Ill./Pleasant Plains) followed with an unassisted goal to give the Bearcats a 2-0 advantage. Freshman wing Nick Smothers (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) scored 20 seconds after Crawford’s goal, and Roberts added his second power-play goal of the contest to extend the margin to 4-0.

 

Stephen Lee (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) made it 5-0 with a shorthanded goal at the 8:38 mark, and junior David Klueskens (Granite City, Ill./Granite City) (Granite City, Ill.) netted his first career goal for the Bearcats with just 39 seconds left in the opening period.

 

McKendree’s final goal came in the second period from junior center Charlie Donze (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic).

 

Sophomore Mike Stier (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) stopped 33 shots to pick up the victory in goal for the Bearcats.