(O'FALLON, Ill., Jan. 18) – The McKendree University women's hockey team defeated the No. 4 ranked Spartans from Michigan State University at home with a 3-1 victory.
 
The Bearcats advance to 13-5 on the season.
 
McKendree struck first as sophomore Callie Hoadley (Hanover, MA/Hanover High School) cut to the net and caught a pass from junior Alyssa Albee (Brookfield, WI/Brookfield Central), burying it past the Spartan goaltender. Freshman Taylor Clarke (Victoria, BC, Canada/Belmont Secondary) was also credited with an assist. The Bearcats would lead 1-0 heading into the first intermission.
 
Eight minutes into the second period, Michigan State found the equalizer to notch the game at one. Soon after, sophomore Elia Burbidge (Tottenham, Ontario, Canada/The Hill Academy) chipped away a puck that Albee took on a breakaway, and capitalizing on her opportunity to give the Bearcats back the lead. The lead would hold heading into the final period.
 
Junior Domenika Reusche (San Jose, CA/Archbishop Mitty) scored an insurance goal with 13 minutes left to go in the third period when she caught a rebound off freshman Taylor Clarke's (Victoria, BC, Canada/Belmont Secondary) shot. The score would remain the same through the rest of the period as the Bearcats took down the No. 4 ranked Spartans, 3-1.
 
Freshman Naomi Leasck (St. Louis, MO/Lindbergh High School) stopped 41/42 shots in her effort, good for a .976 save percentage.
 
The women's hockey team returns to the McKendree Metro Rec Plex on Saturday afternoon, as they take on Denver University at 3:00p.m.