(WEBSTER GROVES, Mo., Feb. 11) - The McKendree University D2 men's hockey team defeated the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Cougars 4-1 in the semifinals of the MACHA Playoffs.

The Bearcats extend their win streak to 15 with the win, and are now 20-3 overall and 15-0 in the MACHA. The men will be back on the ice tomorrow at 1 p.m. to face the University of Iowa at the Webster Groves Ice Arena to play for the MACHA Championship.

Stars of the game were Billy Lamb (St. Louis, MO/St. Mary's HS) scoring two goals, Lazar Lestaric (Belgrade, Serbia/National Sports Academy USHS) with one unassisted goal and one assist, and Andrew Best (Midland, Ontario, Canada/Cambridge Bears Junior A team) with a .961 save percentage.

The first period was largely controlled by the Bearcats having 6 more shots on the goal than the Cougars for a total of 16. The first to score was Lazar Lestaric (Belgrade, Serbia/National Sports Academy USHS) unassisted at the 13 minute mark. Lamb answered back three minutes later with assists coming from Naas and Toivola. The Cougars scored their only goal of the game with seconds remaining in the first period to make the score 2-1 heading into the second.

The Bearcats continued to control the game in the second period with Lamb netting his second of the game from Toivola and Naas. Senior forward Ryan Sizer (Belleville, Ontario, Canada/Picton Pirates EBJCHL) scored the final goal of the game with 9 minutes remaining with Lestaric and freshman forward Levi Armstrong (Urbana, IL/Peoria Mustangs NA3HL) registering assists on the goal. McKendree fired 56 shots on goal in the game compared to the Cougars 26.

Best remained in goal for the entirety of the game. He stopped 25 of 26 shots from the Cougars for a .961 save percentage.