(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 28)—The McKendree University hockey team led 2-0 at the first intermission, but could not hold off Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (Silver) Friday evening in Fairview Heights, dropping a 4-3 decision to the Cougars.
 
McKendree slipped to 3-7-1 overall, and lost for the first time in three home games this season. The Bearcats and Cougars will close out their weekend series Saturday afternoon at the U.S. Ice Sports Complex. Face-off is set for 3 p.m.
 
Junior forward Nic Rolla (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) netted a pair of goals, while junior defenseman Matthew Seelbach (Brentwood, MO/John Burroughs) (Brentwood, Mo./John Burroughs) recorded the other tally for McKendree. Rolla started the scoring with just over five minutes left in the first period with a short-handed goal. Less than three minutes later, Rolla made it 2-0 with an even-strength tally.
 
SIU Edwardsville tied the contest in the second period before Seelbach scored at the 7:29 mark to help the Bearcats take their final lead of the night at 3-2. But the Cougars knotted the score with less than a minute remaining in the second period, and scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with just under seven minutes to play.
 
Junior Nathan Campo (Westmont, IL/Downers Grove South) (Westmont, Ill./Downers Grove South) made 26 saves in goal for McKendree.