(SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Oct. 17)—The McKendree University hockey team led 3-1 after two periods of play, but could not hold on as host Missouri State University rallied to post a 5-4 overtime victory over the Bearcats Friday night in Springfield, Mo.
 
Now winless in its last three contests, McKendree moves to 4-4-1 on the season. The Bearcats and Ice Bears will close out their two-game weekend series when they meet again Saturday at 3 p.m. at Mediacom Ice Rink.
 
Freshman forward Jacob Young (Arnold, MO/Fox) netted two of the four goals on the evening for McKendree. It was his even-strength goal with just under three minutes left in regulation that forced the extra period. Missouri State then scored on a tip-in with just 1:46 left in the five-minute overtime period.
 
With 13:49 remaining in the first period, senior forward Dylan Mueth (Lebanon, IL/Wesclin ) gave McKendree a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal off an assist from senior defenseman Brendan Whitt (Granite City, IL/Granite City). The score stood until the final second of the period, when the Ice Bears tied the contest on a shot in front of the net just before the buzzer sounded.
 
McKendree needed just 15 seconds in the second period to regain a one-goal lead when Young found the back of the net for the first time on the night. Mueth and freshman defenseman Steve Csanyi (Belleville, Ontario, Canada/Nicholson) were credited with the assists on Young's tally. Midway through the period, freshman forward Austin Graf (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon) made it 3-1 in favor of the Bearcats off a pass from junior forward Jacob Schlote (House Springs, MO/Hillsboro).
 
Missouri State responded with three goals in the early stages of the third period to take its first lead of the night at 4-3. The tying and go-ahead goals were scored within a 90-second span. Young scored the game-tying goal following an Ice Bears' turnover in their own zone.
 
Sophomore Tony Salamone (Jefferson City, MO/Jefferson City) played all but four-plus minutes in goal for McKendree and was credited with the loss. Salamone stopped 26 shots on the night.