(LEBANON, Ill., Feb. 5)—Senior wing Nick Dreyer (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) scored three goals and added two assists to help lead the McKendree University hockey team to a 9-6 victory Friday at Robert Morris College-Springfield.

 

Junior center Charlie Donze (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) chipped in with two goals and an assist, while senior wing Kyle Ilges (Highland, Ill./Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) posted a goal and three assists in the winning effort for the Bearcats. McKendree won for the 10^th time in its last 11 games to improve to 17-6 on the year. McKendree and Robert Morris-Springfield will close out its weekend series Saturday evening in Springfield.

 

After the teams played to a 4-4 tie through one period, the Bearcats grabbed the lead for good with four more goals in the second period. Ilges put McKendree in front to stay with an even-strength goal early in the stanza. Senior wing Brian Neighbors (Belleville, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Belleville, Ill./Althoff Catholic) followed with a goal before Dreyer netted his second goal of the night to give the Bearcats a three-goal advantage.

 

Robert Morris-Springfield cut the margin to 7-5 before freshman wing Dan Pettibone (Webster Groves, Mo./Webster Groves) (Webster Groves, Mo./Webster Groves) scored an unassisted goal to close the period and give McKendree an 8-5 lead.

 

Dreyer closed out his hat trick with the Bearcats’ lone goal of the third period.

 

Sophomore Dustin Schildknecht (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon) started in goal for McKendree and split time with senior Ryan Ahlemeyer (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia). The duo combined to make 25 saves in the contest.