(FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill., Oct. 10)—The McKendree University hockey team was defeated on Saturday at home by Eastern Illinois University, 9-6.
The Bearcats held a 5-2 lead after one period of play, but the visiting Panthers came alive by scoring eight times over the last 40 minutes of action to gain a weekend split with McKendree. With the loss, the Bearcats slip to 3-3 overall. McKendree will continue its homestand Friday with a contest against Robert Morris College-Springfield. Face-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Junior wing Kyle Clark (Waterloo, IL/Waterloo) (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) had two goals and an assist in Saturday's game for McKendree, while graduate defenseman Chris Donahue (Levittown, Pa./Truman) (Levittown, Pa./Truman) chipped in with a goal and two assists.
After Eastern Illinois grabbed an early 1-0 lead, McKendree jumped out by scoring four straight times. Donahue tied the game before a goal by sophomore wing Jordan Donze (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) put the Bearcats in front on a power-play goal midway through the first period. Senior center Charlie Donze (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) and Clark each followed with tallies to extend the Bearcats' advantage to 4-1.
The Panthers cut the McKendree lead in half before Clark's second goal of the match with just 10 seconds left in the first period put the Bearcats ahead 5-2. From there, it was all Eastern Illinois as the Panthers tied the game at 5-5 with three goals in the second period, then outscored the Bearcats 4-1 in the final 20 minutes of play. McKendree's final tally came with 14:58 to play on a goal by sophomore wing J. David Coleman (Budapest, Hungary/Fort Zumwalt West) (Budapest, Hungary/Fort Zumwalt West).
Senior goaltender John Moore (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) made 35 saves over the first two periods. Senior Mike Stier (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) stopped 22 of 26 shots in the third period as he was nicked for the loss.
-McK-
