(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 18) – The McKendree University women's hockey team faced off against Grand Valley State at 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, with the game ultimately ending in a 2-2 tie after overtime.
 
McKendree moves to 6-4-1 on the season with the tie. In the most recent American Collegiate Hockey Association rankings the Bearcats slot in a No. 10, just one spot behind the Lakers at No. 9.
 
The first period saw a great deal of action including nine shots for McKendree, but neither team could find the back of the net. The scoreless tie was broken by Grand Valley just 1:34 into the second period. The Lakers extended their lead to two with a power-play goal just over halfway through the period. Grand Valley held a 2-0 lead after two periods of play.
 
The Bearcats responded in the third period as sophomore defenseman Nadia Studnicka sent freshman forward Dakota Peterson on a breakaway. Peterson buried it past the Lakers goaltender with 8:51 remaining in regulation. Sophomore forward Natalia Taylor tied the game at 2-2 on an unassisted effort in the last minute of the game. Taylor stepped around the Grand Valley defense and slid the puck past the goaltender, sending the game to overtime. Neither team scored in the overtime period, as McKendree fired five shots on goal and Grand Valley took two shots.
 
McKendree outshot Grand Valley in the contest, with the Bearcats firing 34 shots on goal to the Lakers' 29. Sophomore goaltender Jazmin Malinowski started in goal for the Bearcats turning aside 27 of 29 shots on goal. Peterson netted her second goal of the season in the contest, and Taylor picked an opportune time to score her first of the season. Check out the video below for highlights of the game!
 
The teams are back in action again on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex in O'Fallon, Ill.