(CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Nov 11) – The McKendree University D2 men's hockey team edged the University of Illinois by a final score of 6-1 on Friday night.
 
The Bearcats opened the scoring with a goal from freshman forward Levi Armstrong (Urbana, IL/Urbana HS) from senior forward Ryan Sizer (Belleville, Ontario, Canada/Moira Secondary School) and senior defenseman Ty Watt (Barrie, Ontario, Canada). The Fighting Illini responded back with a goal of their own, which would prove to be their only goal of the game. McKendree closed out the scoring in the first period with a goal from sophomore forward Lazar Lestaric (Belgrade, Serbia/Sesta). Sizer and senior defenseman Steve Csanyi (Belleville, Ontario, Canada/Nicholson) both registered assists on the Lestaric goal. At the end of the first period the Bearcats held a 2-1 lead over the Fighting Illini. The only goal in the second period came off the stick of sophomore forward Kristjan Toivola (Bellingham, WA/Bellingham Blazers (NPHL)) with Sizer and Armstrong receiving assists. Just under two minutes into the third period, junior forward Jacob Young (Arnold, MO/Fox) found the back of the net with freshman forward Travis Bobb (New York, NY/Bridgeton Academy) and junior forward Jason Beilke, Jr. (Romeoville, IL/Plainfield Central) notching the assists. With 11:46 left in the game, Toivola scored his second of the game on a pass from sophomore forward Blair Davies (Georgetown, Ontario, Canada/Christ the King). To close out the scoring, Armstrong also got his second goal of the game with sophomore defenseman Josh Donovan (Ojai, CA/Cornerstone Academy) and Lestaric registering assists on the goal. At the final buzzer the Bearcats took home a 6-1 victory over the University of Illinois.
 
Both Armstrong and Toivola netted two goals each in the game, with Armstrong also adding an assist. Lestaric netted one goal and added one assist for two points. Sizer was held scoreless in the game but registered three assists for three points. Young scored one goal in the game, giving him his second goal of the year. Watt, Davies, Bobb, Beilke, Donovan, and Csanyi each registered one assist in the game.
 
"The line of Young, Beilke, and Bobb played outstanding tonight," said head coach Garry Henson. "That line dominated play all night and controlled the play every time they were on the ice."
 
The Bearcats hit the ice against the University of Illinois again on Saturday night at 8 p.m. at the Illinois Ice Arena in Champaign, Ill.