(O'FALLON, Ill., Jan 26.) – The McKendree University men's D2 hockey team captured its sixth consecutive win with a dominating 11-1 triumph over the Huskies from Northern Illinois University on Friday night at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex.
 
The Bearcats move to 20-4-1 overall and 16-1 in the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association following the win. With Friday night's victory, head coach Garry Henson recorded his 100^th career win as head coach of the Bearcat hockey team.
 
Northern Illinois jumped ahead early, burying a goal just two minutes into the opening period. Senior Lazar Lestaric (Belgrade, Serbia/National Sports Academy USHS) tied the game just 24 seconds later following an assist from junior Dominic Naas (Neurensdorf, Zurich, Switzerland/Casper Coyotes WSHL). Junior Tyler Wilson (Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada) pushed McKendree ahead after a centering pass from deflected into the net. Junior Alec Nichols (Cedar Rapids, IA/Northern Iowa Bulls NA3HL) and sophomore Shayne Pluto (Calgary, Alberta, Canada/Central Memorial High School) were credited with the helpers.
 
Lestaric notched his second goal of the game on the power play after he caught a pass from Pluto and sophomore Ryan Reader (Granite City, IL/Granite City High School). Sophomore Connor Brennan (Castle Rock, CO/Regis Jesuit High School) closed out the first period scoring as Wilson rifled a pass to Brennan when he cut to the net. Freshman Otasowie Omoregie (Pickering, Ontario, Canada) was also credited with an assist. After the first period, the Bearcats carried a 4-1 lead.
 
After a scoreless second period, McKendree took a 4-1 lead into the final 20 minutes of play.
 
Naas sent a pass to Wilson who found a weak spot in the Husky defense and buried a wide open goal. Sophomore Adam Dempski (St. Charles, MO/Francis Howell North HS) was also given an assist. Wilson fired a pass to a cutting Brennan who tapped the pass into the back of the net for his second goal of the evening. Lestaric finished off the hat trick to give McKendree a six goal lead.
 
Wilson joined Lestaric with a hat trick of his own following a pass from Omoregie. Lestaric buried his fourth goal of the game, a power-play goal, with eight minutes left in the third period. Brennan completed his hat trick three minutes later to give McKendree its 10^th goal of the game. Brennan chipped in his fourth goal, the Bearcats final goal to give McKendree an 11-1 victory.
 
Senior goaltender Andrew Best (Midland, Ontario, Canada/Cambridge Bears Junior A team) recorded 20/21 saves, good for a .952 save percentage.
 
The Bearcats return to the ice on Saturday at 2:00p.m. as they look for the sweep of Northern Illinois.