(O'FALLON, Ill., Jan. 26) – The McKendree University men's D3 hockey team completed the series sweep in dominating fashion late Saturday afternoon with a 10-2 victory against the Spartans from Aurora University on Senior Night.
 
The Bearcats advance to 7-11 overall on the season following the win.
 
After back and forth action to begin the opening period, junior Dmytro Golovko (Kiev, Ukraine/Nashua Christian Academy) finally broke through with his first goal of the season. Sophomore Derek Northrop (St. Louis, MO/De Smet Jesuit High School) continued his hot stretch with his third goal of the series, first of the off a centering pass from fellow sophomore Garrett Poole (Columbia, IL/Columbia High School). Junior Nick Gay (Pinedale, WY/Tri City Outlaws) fired a wrist shot from the blue line through the legs of the Spartan netminder to add to the Bearcat lead. Northrop recorded a short-handed goal with two minutes remaining to extend the lead to 4-0. McKendree carried the lead into the first intermission.
 
Northrop finished his hat trick eight minutes into the second period as he buried a loose puck. Poole recorded his first of the game as he carried the puck through the Spartan defense and slid it into the back of the net. Aurora would net its first goal of the contest to bring the score to 6-1. Senior Ethan Gremminger (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt North High School) scored his first goal of the series to extend the lead back to six with a minute left in the second period. Gay closed out the second period scoring with his second goal of the game and McKendree took an 8-1 lead into the final period.
 
Just 54 seconds into the third period, senior Nick Brendel (Fenton, MO/Fox High School) joined in on the action as he scored on a backhand right in front of the net. Sophomore Nick Nelson (St. Charles, MO/Francis Howell High School) got his first of the game on a one-timer from fellow sophomore Christian Blandina (Glen Carbon, IL/Edwardsville High School). The Bearcats would go on to win 10-2 over Aurora University.
 
Senior goaltender Zachary Allen (Wexford, PA/North Allegheny) recorded 31/33 saves for a .939 save percentage.