(PEORIA, Ill., Jan. 20) – The McKendree University men's D3 hockey team split with Robert Morris University – Peoria, falling 4-2 in the Friday matchup but rebounding and winning 4-3 on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Bearcats move to 13-3 overall on the season with the win and loss. McKendree remains atop the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association Bronze Division with 22 points.
 
In Friday's matchup the Bearcats fell 4-2, with freshman forward Derek Northrop notching goal number 12 this season and senior defenseman Ethan Gremminger recording his seventh. McKendree found themselves one goal behind late in the third period, but could not convert on the man advantage from pulling the goalie. The Eagles were able to score on the empty net to take home the 4-2 victory over the Bearcats.
 
On Saturday the Eagles struck first, just under four minutes into the game. The Bearcats responded on a goal by sophomore defenseman Nick Gay, with freshman Brendan Kelly and Tony Grasso registering assists on the goal. McKendree added another goal before the close of the first period, off the stick of freshman forward Garrett Poole. At the end of the first period the Bearcats led the Eagles 2-1.
 
McKendree opened the scoring in the second period on a shot by freshman defenseman Riley Brown with freshman forward Adam Dempski registering the assist. The Eagles were able to score two unanswered goals to even up the game at 3-3 before the close of the second period. The teams were deadlocked at three throughout the third period until the final 45 seconds. The Bearcats were sprung onto a 3-on-0 breakaway with Gremminger and freshman forwards Dalton Wolfe and Nick Nelson. Wolfe sent a pass to Gremminger, who sent a one touch pass to Nelson, who buried the one timer to seal the 4-3 win for McKendree.
 
The Bearcats are back at home on January 26 and 27 for two games against Wheaton College.