(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 17)—The McKendree University hockey team broke open a close contest late and posted a 6-3 victory Friday night at home against Bradley University.
 
Freshman forward Sasha-Mitchell Perron (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada/Bellingham Blazers (NPHL)) scored twice and had an assist, while sophomore forward Billy Lame also netted a pair of goals to help the Bearcats improve to 6-4 overall. McKendree and Bradley will wrap up their weekend series Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. at the East Alton Ice Arena.
 
Freshman forward Lazar Lestaric (Belgrade, Serbia/Sesta) chipped in with a goal and two assists for McKendree, while forward Dylan Mueth (Lebanon, IL/Wesclin ) tallied the other goal of the contest for the Bearcats.
 
Perron started the scoring for McKendree eight minutes into the contest before the visiting Braves quickly tied the game just over a minute later. Lamb broke the deadlock with the first of his two goals with 4:53 left in the opening period to give the Bearcats a 2-1 advantage at the first intermission. Perron made it 3-1 in the early stages of the second period before Bradley answered moments later to pull back within a goal at 3-2.
 
Midway through the period, Mueth score off a pass from Perron to extend the Bearcats' lead back to two goals. Bradley would not go away, and a score in the closing minutes of the stanza helped Bradley pull within 4-3. The score stood until the closing minutes, when Lamb found the back of the net off an assist from Lestaric with 1:40 to play. Lestaric then added an empty net goal with 42 seconds on the clock to seal the win for the Bearcats.
 
Freshmen Andrew Best (Midland, Ontario, Canada/Cambridge Bears Junior A) and Jared Bradley (St. Peters, MO/St. Louis Frontenacs Juniors (MNJHL)) split time in net for McKendree. Best was credited with seven saves, while Bradley earned the win as he stopped 19 shots over the final two periods.