(HIGHLAND PARK, Ill., Oct. 7) – The McKendree University men's D3 hockey team traveled to Northwestern to play a two game series this weekend. The Bearcats got their first victory of the season in game one by the score of 5-1.
 
Game One
McKendree held control throughout the duration of the game as they never trailed. Sophomore Derek Northrop (St. Louis, MO/De Smet Jesuit High School) got the scoring started when he netted an unassisted goal five minutes into the opening period. The Bearcats would lead 1-0 heading into the first intermission.
 
Sophomore Riley Brown (Granite City, IL/Granite City High School) buried one past the Wildcat goaltender with the help from sophomore Dalton Wolfe (Pekin, IL/Pekin Community High School). Northrop lit the lamp with his second goal of the game with a pass from Wolfe. Sophomore Nick Nelson (St. Charles, MO/Francis Howell High School) extended the lead with two consecutive goals with the help from Northrop and sophomore Garrett Poole (Columbia, IL/Columbia High School). Freshman Joey Bernardini (Chesterfield, MO/Christian Brothers College High School) allowed a single goal in the 5-1 victory over Northwestern.
 
"I was very happy to see the hard work the team has been putting in to result in a win," said McKendree D3 head coach Brett DeNap.
 
Game Two
The Bearcats jumped out to a 4-0 when sophomore Cayden Brilley (Decatur, IL) got the first goal of the game but the help from junior Dmytro Golovko (Kiev, Ukraine/Nashua Christian Academy). Northrop continued his hot streak as he scored his third goal of the series off a pass from Poole. Senior Ethan Gremminger (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt North High School) added the lead after his first goal of series and McKendree would lead 3-0 after the opening period.
 
Junior Trevor Rieck (O'Fallon, IL/O'Fallon Township High School) scored his first goal of the season with assists from Gremminger and Brilley. Sophomore Christian Blandina (Glen Carbon, IL/Edwardsville High School) scored the fifth and final goal for the Bearcats and they would go on to finish the sweep with a 5-3 win.
 
"Despite 3 unanswered goals in the 3rd period we were able to hold them off and get the weekend sweep," said McKendree D3 head coach Brett DeNap.
 
The men's D3 hockey team will continue their stretch of road games when they travel to East Alton, Ill. to play Southern Illinois Edwardsville on October 19.