(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 22)—The McKendree University hockey team saw its four-game win streak come to an end Friday night with a 3-2 loss Friday at home to Western Illinois University. The contest was played at the U.S. Ice Sports Complex in Fairview Heights.

Sophomore wing Nic Rolla (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) (O'Fallon, Ill./SIUE) scored both goals for McKendree, including the game-tying marker midway through the third period. But the Fighting Leathernecks netted the game-winner less than a minute later to send the Bearcats down to defeat. McKendree slips to 4-2-1 on the year and will host Western Illinois again Saturday at 3 p.m.

Rolla gave McKendree a 1-0 lead at the 9:47 mark of the first period thanks to assists from junior defenseman Derek Hartung (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) and freshman defenseman Shawn Donahue (Levittown, PA/Truman) (Levittown, Pa./Truman). The 1-0 lead held up until midway through the second period when Western Illinois scored to tie the contest at 1-1. Four minutes later, the Fighting Leathernecks tallied a power play goal to build a 2-1 lead heading into the third period.

With McKendree on the power play midway through the final period, Rolla took a pass from senior wing Nick Smothers (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) and found the back of the net to knot the contest at 2-2. Just 34 seconds after Rolla evened the score, Western Illinois netted the game-winner.

Senior Mike Stier (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) made 26 saves in taking the loss in goal for the Bearcats.