(WEBSTER GROVES, Mo., Feb. 10) – The McKendree University men's D2 hockey team defeated Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville by a score of 4-3 to advance to the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) Gold Division Championship. The MACHA Gold Division Championship is set for 12:45 p.m. against Iowa State University on Sunday afternoon in Webster Groves, Mo.
 
McKendree looks to grab its second straight MACHA Gold Division Championship on Sunday, after joining the D2 ranks of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) last season. The Bearcats improve to 22-5 with the victory over SIUE and will faceoff against Iowa State on Sunday.
 
McKendree grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first period when sophomore forward Dominic Naas (Neurensdorf, Zurich, Switzerland/Casper Coyotes WSHL) lit the lamp. The Bearcats held the one goal lead through the remainder of the first period. Over halfway through the second period, Naas found a loose puck near the net and buried it past the Cougars net minder to give McKendree a two goal lead. The teams battled throughout the remainder of the period with the Bearcats holding a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes.
 
SIUE found the back of the net in the third period to close the gap to just one goal, but three minutes later McKendree responded with a goal from sophomore forward Tyler Wilson to regain the two goal lead. Junior defenseman Ty Watt (Barrie, Ontario, Canada/Rama Aces GMHL) extended the Bearcats lead to three with a goal with 7:41 remaining in the third period. SIUE attempted a comeback, scoring two goals before the close of the period, but McKendree came up victorious with the 4-3 win.
 
Junior goaltender Andrew Best (Midland, Ontario, Canada/Cambridge Bears Junior A team) started between the pipes for the Bearcats, earning the win. McKendree is back on the ice for the MACHA Gold Division Championship against Iowa State University at 12:45 p.m. at Webster Groves Ice Arena in Webster Groves, Mo.