(O'FALLON, Ill., Nov. 10) – The McKendree University men's D2 hockey team beat the University of Iowa in a shootout 5-4 late Saturday afternoon.
 
With the win, McKendree is 11-3 overall on the season and 10-0 in the Mid-America Collegiate Hockey Association.
 
Senior Ty Watt (Barrie, Ontario, Canada/Rama Aces GMHL) got the Bearcats on the board seven minutes into the opening period with a pass from sophomore Connor Brennan (Castle Rock, CO/Regis Jesuit High School). McKendree would pepper 23 shots in the first period and hold a 1-0 going into the first intermission.
 
The Hawkeyes tied the game at one early in the second period. Junior Tyler Wilson (Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada) recorded his first goal of the afternoon to put the Bearcats ahead by one. Junior Alec Nichols (Cedar Rapids, IA/Northern Iowa Bulls NA3HL) and Watt were credited with the assists. Extending the lead was junior Dominic Naas (Neurensdorf, Zurich, Switzerland/Casper Coyotes WSHL) with passes from senior Lazar Lestaric (Belgrade, Serbia/National Sports Academy USHS) and sophomore Shayne Pluto (Calgary, Alberta, Canada/Central Memorial High School). Iowa netted another goal in the period but McKendree would lead 3-2.
 
Iowa would jump ahead by one with consecutive goals midway through the final period. Pulling the goalie, the Bearcats used the man advantage to tie the game with 27 seconds left. Watt contributed his second goal of the game to notch the game at 4. Wilson was credited with the helper.
 
With no goals in the overtime period, the game moved to a shootout. Naas netted the Bearcats first opportunity and Brennan ended the game with his shootout goal in McKendree's third chance. Senior goalie Andrew Best (Midland, Ontario, Canada/Cambridge Bears Junior A team) turned away the Hawkeyes two chances to clinch the victory.
 
The men's D2 hockey team will return to the rink on November 16-17 when they travel to Peoria, Ill for a two game series with Bradley University.