(LEBANON, Ill., Dec. 3)—The McKendree University hockey team overcame a slow start to register a 6-3 win Saturday on the road against Bradley University.
 
The Bearcats broke a 3-3 tie by scoring the final three goals of the contest, holding the host Braves without a tally over the last 34 minutes of play in the process. McKendree will take an overall record of 8-9-1 into the holiday break. The Bearcats will be away from the ice for nearly seven weeks before returning to action Jan. 20 at home against Illinois State University. Face-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at the U.S. Ice Sports Complex in Fairview Heights.
 
Junior wing Nic Rolla (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) (O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) led a balanced attack for McKendree with two goals and an assist. Senior center J. David Coleman (Budapest, Hungary/Fort Zumwalt West) (Budapest, Hungary/Fort Zumwalt West) chipped in with a goal and two assists, while junior goalie Nathan Campo (Westmont, IL/Downers Grove South) (Westmont, Ill./Downers Grove South) turned away 36 Bradley shots to pick up the win between the pipes for the Bearcats.
 
Bradley took a 1-0 lead in the first minute of play before McKendree answered just under six minutes into the first period. Sophomore wing Dylan Mueth (New Baden, IL/Belleville East) (New Baden, Ill./Belleville East) scored off a pass from senior wing Kyle Clark (Waterloo, IL/Waterloo) (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo) to even the contest at 1-1. The Braves responded with a goal at the six-minute mark to take a 2-1 lead entering the first intermission.
 
Sophomore wing Carlos Galvan (Mulvane, KS/Mulvane) (Mulvane, Kan./Mulvane) and Coleman each scored with an 18-second span early in the second period to help McKendree grab a 3-2 lead. Bradley tied the game moments later before the Bearcats took control in the final 30 minutes.
 
Junior defenseman Matthew Seelbach (Brentwood, MO/John Burroughs) (Brentwood, Mo./John Burroughs) scored with 12:28 left in the second period to put McKendree ahead for good at 4-3. Less than a minute later, Rolla notched the first of his two goals with an unassisted tally to help the Bearcats build a 5-3 advantage.
 
Rolla then provided the only goal of the third period off a pass from Coleman. The Bearcats' defense, which allowed 21 shots on goal in the first period by Bradley, limited the Braves to just 18 shots over the final two periods.
 
The win on Saturday helped McKendree gain a split of its weekend series at Bradley. The Braves scratched out a 4-3 overtime victory Friday night over the Bearcats.