(PEORIA, Ill., Jan. 29)—Sophomore wing Jordan Donze (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) (Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic) scored the game-winning goal with 52 seconds remaining in overtime to give the McKendree University hockey team a 5-4 victory Friday at Robert Morris College-Peoria.
Donze's second goal of the night lifted McKendree to its fourth consecutive victory. The Bearcats are now 11-7 overall and will face Robert Morris-Peoria again Saturday evening in Peoria, Ill.
Sophomore wing Nic Rolla (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) (O'Fallon, Ill./SIU-Edwardsville) also added two goals along with an assist, while graduate defenseman Brooks Boeschen (Belleville, Ill./Belleville East) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville East) handed out two assists in the victory. Freshman wing Matt Seelbach (Brentwood, Mo./John Burroughs) netted the Bearcats' other goal against Robert Morris-Peoria.
McKendree jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Rolla and Seelbach before the host Eagles tied the game early in the third period. Rolla added his second goal midway through the third before Donze scored with 5:51 on the clock to help the Bearcats regain a two-goal advantage. However, Robert Morris-Peoria tallied twice in the final two minutes to force the overtime.
Donze scored the game-winner off a pass by Rolla in the final minute of the extra period. The victory marked the Bearcats' second overtime win of the year.
Senior Mike Stier (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West) was busy in goal for McKendree, stopping 54 shots to earn the victory.
-McK-
