(BLOOMINGTON, Ill., Dec. 7) – The McKendree University men's D2 hockey team was defeated on the road by Illinois State University on Saturday night by the score of 5-3. Saturday's contest closes the 2019 calendar schedule for the Bearcats.
 
McKendree falls to 6-9-1 overall and 4-9-1 in Mid-America Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) play.
 
The Redbirds jumped out to a 3-0 lead 13 minutes into the opening period. McKendree ended the scoring run with a short-handed goal from sophomore Cayden Brilley (Decatur, IL/St. Teresa), unassisted. Junior Nick Nelson (St. Charles, MO/Francis Howell High School) cut the Illinois State lead to one on a goal two minutes later with assists from sophomore Logan Bielecke (Glen Carbon, IL) and freshman Noah Scrum (Maryville, IL/Collinsville High School). After the first period, Illinois State led 3-2.
 
Four minutes into the second period, Illinois State pushed their lead back to two. Late into the second minute, junior Riley Brown (Granite City, IL/Granite City High School) found the back of the net on the power-play to push the deficit back to one. Scrum was credited with an assist on the goal.
 
Illinois State scored once more in the final period to secure a 5-3 victory over McKendree.
 
The Bearcats will be back on the ice in 2020 on Jan. 17-18 on the road against Maryville University