(LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 31)—The McKendree University hockey team brought its 2015-16 regular-season schedule to a close with a 5-2 loss Saturday afternoon at Northern Illinois University.
 
The Bearcats took an early lead in the contest, but the host Huskies reeled off three unanswered goals and never looked back to gain the weekend split. McKendree had its five-game win streak snapped with the loss and moves to 16-10 overall. Up next for the Bearcats will be the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) Tournament. The event will be held Feb. 12-14 at the Owens Center in Peoria, Ill. Pairings and game times will be announced on Tuesday.
 
Midway through the first period, sophomore forward Ryan Sizer (Belleville, Ontario, Canada/Moira Secondary School) took a pass from fellow sophomore forward Billy Lamb (St. Louis, MO/St. Mary's) and scored to give McKendree a 1-0 lead. Northern Illinois tied the game in the final minute of the first period, then scored twice in the second period to grab a 3-1 advantage. Freshman forward Sasha-Mitchell Perron (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada/Bellingham Blazers (NPHL)) tallied an unassisted goal with just over a minute remaining before the second intermission to trim the Bearcats' deficit to 3-2.
 
The Huskies then put the game away by scoring twice in the third period to avenge an 8-4 loss to McKendree on Friday evening.
 
Freshman Jared Bradley (St. Peters, MO/St. Louis Frontenacs Juniors (MNJHL)) was charged with the loss in goal for McKendree. Bradley faced 38 shots by Northern Illinois and collected 33 saves.