(PEORIA, Ill., Nov. 16) – The McKendree University men's D2 hockey team defeated the Braves of Bradley University 4-2 on Friday night in Peoria. Four different Bearcats contributed goals in the win.
 
McKendree advances to 12-3 overall and 11-0 in the Mid-America Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA). The Bearcats have now won seven consecutive games.
 
Bradley got on the board first with a goal 13 minutes into the opening period. Just two minutes later, senior Ty Watt (Barrie, Ontario, Canada/Rama Aces GMHL) tied the game at one with assists from juniors Tyler Wilson (Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada) and Alec Nichols (Cedar Rapids, IA/Northern Iowa Bulls NA3HL). The first period ended with McKendree and Bradley notched at one apiece.
 
Junior Dominic Naas (Neurensdorf, Zurich, Switzerland/Casper Coyotes WSHL) put McKendree ahead as he caught a pass from sophomore Adam Dempski (St. Charles, MO/Francis Howell North HS) and buried it past the Brave goaltender. Bradley would even the game just two minutes later. Sophomore Shayne Pluto (Calgary, Alberta, Canada/Central Memorial High School) scored the game-winning goal at the halfway point in the second period with Naas getting credit for the assist. Extending the lead, senior Lazar Lestaric (Belgrade, Serbia/National Sports Academy USHS) scored the insurance goal to put McKendree up 4-2. Pluto assisted Lestaric on the goal.
 
No scoring happened in the final period as McKendree took a 4-2 victory against Bradley University.
 
The Bearcats return to the rink at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday night as they for their fourth consecutive sweep against Bradley.