(FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill., Oct. 16)—The McKendree University hockey team was defeated at home Friday night by Robert Morris College-Springfield, 7-3.
With the loss, the Bearcats slip to 3-4 overall on the season. McKendree will close out its six-game homestand Saturday afternoon by hosting Robert Morris-Springfield once again. The contest at the U.S. Ice Sports Complex in Fairview Heights will begin at 3 p.m.
Freshman center/wing Ryan Dietl (Webster Groves, Mo./Webster Groves) (Webster Groves, Mo./Webster Groves) gave the Bearcats a 1-0 lead early in the first period before Robert Morris-Springfield took control and built a 2-1 lead at the first intermission. Sophomore wing J. David Coleman (Budapest, Hungary/Fort Zumwalt West) (Budapest, Hungary/Fort Zumwalt West) tied the contest at 2-2 off a pass from senior center Charlie Donze (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) three minutes into the second period.
From there, the visiting Eagles pulled away by outscoring McKendree 5-1 over the final 37 minutes of play. The Bearcats' final goal came with 4:45 to play when wing Ryan Haeffle (Columbia, Ill./Columbia) scored to bring McKendree within 6-3.
Senior Mike Stier (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville) stopped 30 shots and was charged with the loss in goal for McKendree.
-McK-
