(PEORIA, Ill., Dec. 9) – The McKendree University D2 hockey team extended its winning streak to seven after defeating Robert Morris University – Peoria by a final score of 7-1 at the Owens Center in Peoria, Ill. on Friday evening.

After a scoreless first period, sophomore forward Lazar Lestaric (Belgrade, Serbia/Sesta) opened the scoring for the Bearcats with a power play goal with assists coming from freshmen forwards Levi Armstrong (Urbana, IL/Urbana HS) and Dominic Naas (Neurensdorf, Zurich, Switzerland/KV Zurich Business School). McKendree added another power play goal in the second period from senior forward Jason Beilke Jr. with freshman Alec Nichols (Cedar Rapids, IA/George Washington HS) and sophomore Blair Davies (Georgetown, Ontario, Canada/Christ the King) registering assists on the goal. The Bearcats held a 2-0 lead heading into the third period. The Bearcats found the back of the net first in the third period on a goal from senior defenseman Steve Csanyi (Belleville, Ontario, Canada/Nicholson) with Lestaric and Naas getting assists on the goal. The Eagles netted their first goal of the game to narrow the lead to 3-1. However, the Bearcats continued to score with freshman forward Stanislav Gavrus (Grodno, Belarus/Gymnasium #1) netting a goal on a pass from Csanyi. The Bearcats continued scoring in the third period, with freshman defenseman Brogan Walters (St. Louis, MO/Ladue Horton Watkins HS) adding his first of the game on a pass from Beilke. to give McKendree a 5-1 lead. Freshman forward Dominic Naas (Neurensdorf, Zurich, Switzerland/KV Zurich Business School) netted his first goal of the game with just 4:25 to play, with Csanyi and senior forward Ryan Sizer (Belleville, Ontario, Canada/Moira Secondary School) notching assists on the goal. Walters netted his second goal of the game on a pass from junior Billy Lamb (St. Louis, MO/St. Mary's HS) to put the game away for the Bearcats. At the final buzzer, McKendree took home a 7-1 win over Robert Morris.
 
Walters netted the first two goals of his career with the Bearcats in this contest, to give him two goals and one assist on the season for three points. Naas and Csanyi each added one goal and two assists in the game. Naas now has eight goals and 18 assists on the season for 26 points. Csanyi has eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points, which leads defenseman for McKendree. Beilke netted one goal and added an assist, to give him two goals and four assists for six points on the year. Sophomore goalie Andrew Best (Midland, Ontario, Canada/Saint Theresa’s High School) stopped 12 of 13 shots for a 0.923 save percentage and his eighth win of the season.
 
"Brogan is just solid on the back line and it's great to see him rewarded with two goals tonight," said head coach Garry Henson.
 
The Bearcats are back in action against RMU-Peoria again Saturday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. at the Owens Center in Peoria, Ill.