(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 9)—The McKendree wrapped up its 2007-08 regular season and the championship of the Mid-America Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) with an 8-1 victory Saturday afternoon at home against Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

 

Senior center Scott Roberts (Philadelphia, Pa./Bensalem) (Philadelphia, Pa./Bensalem) recorded four goals while junior center Charlie Donze (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) handed out three assists as the Bearcats claimed their first-ever conference regular-season championship. McKendree closes out the regular-season portion of its schedule with an overall record of 20-6. The Bearcats went 12-2 in league play in 2007-08.

 

By winning the MACHA Silver Division title, the Bearcats will have the top seed in next week’s MACHA Tournament. McKendree will play a tournament semifinal game Saturday at noon against an opponent to be announced on Monday. A victory would put the Bearcats in the MACHA Silver Division Tournament championship game on Sunday.

 

In Saturday’s game, Roberts scored twice in the first period to give the Bearcats a 2-0 lead. Senior wing Nick Dreyer (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) made it 3-0 with a power-play goal midway through the second period, and senior wing Ryan Haeffele (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) followed with a shorthanded goal to give the Bearcats a four-goal cushion. SIU-Edwardsville scored its only goal of the contest with less than four minutes left in the second period.

 

Senior wing Brian Neighbors (Belleville, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Belleville, Ill./Althoff Catholic) scored early in the third period to help McKendree regain a four-goal advantage. The Bearcats then closed the game by scoring three times in the final 3:22 of play. Roberts completed his four-goal game by scoring twice in a 47-second span, and junior defenseman Brooks Boeschen (Belleville, Ill./Belleville East) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville East) wrapped up the scoring on a goal with just 23 seconds remaining.

 

Sophomore Mike Stier (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) collected 21 saves to earn the victory in goal for McKendree. Stier improved to 8-5 on the year.