(CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Oct. 14) – The McKendree University men's D2 hockey team fell to No. 12 ranked University of Illinois D1 6-1 on Saturday night in Champaign, Ill.
 
McKendree moves to 5-3 overall on the season, and the Fighting Illini move to 8-0. The series marks the first time McKendree has played against an American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) D1 opponent.
 
The Fighting Illini opened the scoring in the contest 3:49 into the game. The Bearcats responded two minutes later, when freshman forward Connor Brennan (Castle Rock, CO/Regis Jesuit High School) lit the lamp to tie the game at 1-1. Freshman defenseman Cole Dezainde (Ohsweken, Ontario, Canada/Assumption College) and sophomore forward Tyler Wilson (Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada) each notched assists on Brennan's goal. The Illini netted one more goal before the close of the first period to hold a 2-1 lead.
 
The Illini scored three times in the second period and added one more in the third period to earn a 6-1 victory over McKendree. The Bearcats are back in action for two games at the University of Iowa on October 20^th and 21^st.