(O'FALLON, Ill., Oct. 16) – The McKendree University men's D1 hockey team made their home debut against Midwest College Hockey (MCH) member, Maryville University on Wednesday evening. A four goal second period proved to be the difference as the Bearcats secured a 5-4 victory.
 
The Bearcats advance to 3-0 overall on the season and 1-0 in MCH play.
 
Maryville got on the board first eight minutes into the first period. Three minutes later, Lazar Lestaric (Belgrade, Serbia/National Sports Academy USHS) connected with line mates junior Shayne Pluto (Calgary, Alberta, Canada/Central Memorial High School) and senior Dominic Naas (Neurensdorf, Zurich, Switzerland/Casper Coyotes WSHL) on a power-play to knot the game at one. The Saints countered back two minutes later to regain the lead. Maryville carried a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
 
The Bearcats tied the game once again as Lestaric scored his second goal of the game off a tip from Naas. Junior Jacob Scrum (Maryville, IL/Collinsville High School) was also credited with an assist. Once again, Maryville answered back two minutes later to take the lead. Seconds later, the Pluto-Lestaric-Naas line came through again as Naas found the back of the net to tie the game at three.
 
Four minutes later, the Saints countered again to take a 4-3 lead with nine minutes remaining in the second period. A shot from freshman Oscar Andersson (Stockholm, Sweden/Vasa Real) snuck past the Maryville netminder to level the contest at four. The Bearcats took the lead on a tic-tac-toe goal from Naas for his second of the game. Sophomores Cory Robinson (St. Charles, MO/) and Otasowie Omoregie (Pickering, Ontario, Canada/) set up Naas for the goal.
 
McKendree carried the 5-4 lead into the final period where that score would stand and the Bearcats secured their first MCH victory as a D1 program.
 
Sophomore goalie Wes Werner (LaSalle, Ontario, Canada/Sandwich Secondary School) made 25/29 saves in the win.
 
The Bearcats will be back at the rink on Oct. 30 as they host Maryville University at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex.