(SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Feb. 4)—The McKendree University hockey team was involved in an overtime shootout for the first time in 2013-14 on Friday at Missouri State University, and the Bearcats dropped a 7-6 decision to the host Bears.
 
McKendree slips to 6-6-3 on the year and will close out its regular season Saturday against Missouri State.
 
The Bearcats held a 6-5 edge midway through the third period, but Missouri State tied the contest with just 1:06 left in regulation, then scored the game-winner in the fourth round of the shootout.
 
Junior forward Elliot Emann (Washington, Mo./Washington) and junior defenseman Quinn Hellman each scored a pair of goals in the contest for McKendree. Sophomore forward Jacob Schlote (House Springs, MO/Hillsboro) handed out three assists in the contest, while sophomore forward Andrew Falls (Brentwood, TN/Brentwood) and freshman defenseman Aaron Rogers (Troy, IL/Triad) each chipped in with a goal and assist for the Bearcats.
 
Rogers gave McKendree a 1-0 lead midway through the first period with a power-play goal off a pass from Schlote. Emann netted his own power-play goal less than a minute later to stretch the lead to 2-0. Missouri State struck back with three goals in the final five minutes of the period to take a 3-2 lead at the first intermission. Hellmann scored both of his goals in the later stages of the second period to push the Bearcats back in front by a 4-3 score, and Emann tallied his second goal of the contest with 1:28 on the clock to give McKendree a 5-3 lead after two periods of play.
 
Missouri State tied the game with two goals in the first four minutes of the third period. With 14:04 left in regulation, Falls found the back of the net for an unassisted goal to give McKendree one final lead at 6-5. The Bears netted the equalizer with just 1:06 to play, forcing the shootout. Each team was held scoreless through the first three rounds of the shootout, and Missouri State tallied the winner in the first round of the sudden-death shootout.
 
Freshman Tony Salamone (Jefferson City, MO/Jefferson City) stopped 43 shots in goal for McKendree.