(PEORIA, Ill., Jan. 24)—The McKendree University hockey team closed out its second consecutive weekend sweep by posting a 3-2 victory Saturday night at Robert Morris University-Peoria.
 
The Bearcats built a 3-1 lead in the early stages of the third period and made it stand to collect their fourth straight victory and ninth triumph in 11 outings. McKendree improves to 15-9 overall and will close out the regular season Jan. 29-30 with games on the road against Northern Illinois University. Friday's face-off is set for 7:30 p.m. with the Saturday contest slated for 3 p.m.
 
Backed by a strong effort from the McKendree defensive unit, freshman Andrew Best (Midland, Ontario, Canada/Cambridge Bears Junior A) stopped 19 of 21 shots by the Eagles to notch the win. Best faced no more than nine shots in any period in the effort.
 
Forward Dylan Mueth (Lebanon, IL/Wesclin ) staked McKendree to an early 1-0 lead with a goal just 24 seconds into the match. Sophomore forwards Billy Lamb (St. Louis, MO/St. Mary's) and Ryan Sizer (Belleville, Ontario, Canada/Moira Secondary School) each had an assist on Mueth's goal. Early in the second period, Mueth was credited with an assist as freshman forward Sasha-Mitchell Perron (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada/Bellingham Blazers (NPHL)) found the back of the net to push the Bearcats in front at 2-1. Sizer then provided what proved to be the game-winning goal four minutes into the third period off a pass from sophomore defenseman Steve Csanyi (Belleville, Ontario, Canada/Nicholson) to push McKendree out to a two-goal advantage.
 
Robert Morris-Peoria scored moments later to trim the deficit to 3-2, but Best and the Bearcats' defense made the one-goal margin stand. With its win on Saturday, McKendree improved to 12-7 in road games this season.