(GENEVA, Ill., Nov. 11) – The McKendree University men's D3 hockey team defeated Aurora University by a final score of 5-4 on Friday Night at Fox Valley Ice Arena.
 
The Bearcats improve to 8-1 on the season and extend their winning streak to five games. McKendree sits at the No. 7 spot in the Pacific Region of American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) D3, in the most recent rankings. Aurora is currently at No. 13 in the Pacific Region of ACHA D3.
 
McKendree scored twice in the first period, with both goals coming inside the final two minutes of play. Freshman forward Garrett Poole lit the lamp with 1:22 remaining, with sophomore forward Trevor Rieck and senior forward Garrett Kellam notching assists. The Bearcats struck again just 30 seconds later when freshman forward Nick Nelson found the back of the net on a pass from freshman forward Dalton Wolfe. The first period closed with McKendree leading Aurora 2-0.
 
The Bearcats came out strong in the second period scoring their third goal in a span of 1:45 of play. Graduate student forward Brett Maggio scored just 23 seconds into the period on a feed from freshman forward Tony Grasso. Freshman forward Christian Blandina scored with 14 minutes left in the second period on an unassisted effort to extend the Bearcats lead to four goals. Aurora found its way on the scoreboard with a power play goal before the end of the second period. McKendree held a 4-1 lead after two periods of play.
 
Aurora came out strong in the third period scoring just 40 seconds in to cut the lead to two goals. The Spartans found the back of the net again, midway through the third period with a power play goal to cut the Bearcats lead to 4-3. Blandina fired a shot that beat the Aurora goaltender for his second goal of the game, with Nelson registering an assist on the goal. The Spartans scored one more time before the final buzzer, but it would not be enough as the Bearcats took home the 5-4 win.
 
Senior goaltender Zach Allen turned aside 30 of 34 shots on goal in the contest for a save percentage of 0.882. Blandina scored twice in the contest for seven goals in a three game scoring streak. Nelson registered two points in the contest, finding the back of the net once and adding one assist.
 
The teams are back in action at 9:45 p.m. at Fox Valley Ice Arena in Geneva, Ill.