(LEBANON, Ill., March 9)—The McKendree University hockey team battled down to the wire in a 3-1 loss Wednesday afternoon against Calvin College in pool play at the 2016 American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division 3 National Championship in Grand Rapids, Mich.
 
Freshman Jared Bradley (St. Peters, MO/St. Louis Frontenacs Juniors (MNJHL)) turned in a solid performance in goal for the Bearcats. Bradley allowed just one goal in each period, stopping a total of 31 shots in the contest. That also included a 15-save performance in the second period.
 
Calvin, the No. 2 seed in the pool, grabbed a 1-0 lead at the 13:24 mark of the opening period. That score stood until the later stages of the second period, when Knights added another tally to extend its advantage to 2-0. Calvin netted its final goal of the game with 14:34 to play in taking a 3-0 lead.
 
McKendree broke up the Knights' shutout bid with 4:23 to play as freshman forward Kristjan Toivola (Bellingham, WA/Bellingham Blazers (NPHL)) found the back of the net off a pass from freshman forward Lazar Lestaric (Belgrade, Serbia/Sesta). The Bearcats could get no closer as the Knights held off McKendree to collect the win. Calvin held a slight edge in shots on goal against the Bearcats at 34-31.
 
The loss sends McKendree to 18-12 on the season. The Bearcats will wrap up their stay at the ACHA Division 3 National Championships by facing off against Kennesaw State University Thursday morning at 10 a.m. ET (9 a.m. CT).