(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 31)—The McKendree University hockey team was defeated Friday evening on the road by the University of Iowa, 7-4.
 
The Hawkeyes opened up a 3-0 lead after the first period and never looked back in collecting the victory over the Bearcats. McKendree dropped its third straight contest to slip to 6-7 on the year. The two teams will meet again to wrap up a weekend series Saturday at 4:45 p.m. in Coralville, Iowa.
 
In the first period, Iowa scored twice in the later stages of the stanza before a power-play goal with just five seconds left on the clock sent the hosts to a 3-0 advantage at the first intermission. Just 54 seconds into the second period, McKendree got on the scoreboard when sophomore forward Billy Lamb (St. Louis, MO/St. Mary's) tallied a goal off a pass from sophomore forward Ryan Sizer (Belleville, Ontario, Canada/Moira Secondary School) to cut the Bearcats' deficit to 3-1. The Hawkeyes reeled off the next three goals to stretch the margin to 6-1 when Sizer netted a short-handed goal with just nine seconds left in the second period to bring McKendree within four goals.
 
Sophomore defenseman Steve Csanyi (Belleville, Ontario, Canada/Nicholson) opened the third-period scoring with assists going to freshman forwards Sasha-Mitchell Perron (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada/Bellingham Blazers (NPHL)) and Lazar Lestaric (Belgrade, Serbia/Sesta). Midway through the frame, sophomore forward Ethan Gremminger (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt North) scored to help McKendree rally within 6-4. But Iowa added an insurance goal late in the contest to seal the victory.
 
Freshman Jared Bradley (St. Peters, MO/St. Louis Frontenacs Juniors (MNJHL)) started in goal for the Bearcats, and was relieved by fellow freshman Andrew Best (Midland, Ontario, Canada/Cambridge Bears Junior A) in the second period. The duo combined to stop 32 Iowa shots on goal.