(LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 21)—Sophomore wing
Brett Denap (Granite City, IL/Granite City) made quite a splash in his first weekend of play with the McKendree University hockey program.
Denap (Granite City, Ill./Granite City) scored twice in the Bearcats' 5-3 home victory over Illinois State University, including the tying and go-ahead goals in the third period. That effort came on the heels of a two-goal, one-assist performance in Denap's debut on Friday, a 10-5 Bearcat romp over the IceBirds.
McKendree has won each of its last three contests to move above the .500 mark for the first time this season at 10-9-1. The Bearcats will be on the road next weekend in Springfield, Mo., to take on Missouri State University. McKendree and Missouri State will meet in the first of a two-game weekend series Friday at 9:45 p.m.
Defense dominated the opening 40 minutes on Saturday as McKendree and Illinois State were tied at 1-1 entering the second intermission. Each team scored in the first period. Sophomore
Dylan Mueth (New Baden, IL/Belleville East) (New Baden, Ill./Belleville East) gave the Bearcats a 1-0 lead just five minutes into the contest with the assist going to senior center
J. David Coleman (Budapest, Hungary/Fort Zumwalt West) (Budapest, Hungary/Fort Zumwalt West). The IceBirds tied the contest with exactly four minutes remaining in the first period.
After a scoreless second period, Illinois State grabbed a 2-1 advantage with just under 13 minutes remaining. Denap knotted the game at 2-2 with 10:13 on the clock before netting the go-ahead goal two minutes later. Coleman stretched the Bearcats' lead to 4-2 with a power-play goal at the 6:25 mark before Illinois State answered with a power-play tally of its own to pull within 4-3.
Junior wing
Derek Sallee (Highland, IL/Highland) (Highland, Ill./Highland) provided an insurance goal with 3:05 remaining. Junior
Nathan Campo (Westmont, IL/Downers Grove South) (Westmont, Ill./Downers Grove South) turned in another solid performance in goal for McKendree, stopping 27 of 30 shots face in the game. Campo improved to 8-8-1 thanks to the victory.