(ST. LOUIS, Mo., Feb. 9) – The McKendree University men's D2 hockey team closed out its regular season by completing the sweep of Maryville University on Saturday night with a 5-4 win.
 
The Bearcats close the regular season with a 23-5-1 record.
 
Sophomore Shayne Pluto (Calgary, Alberta, Canada/Central Memorial High School) got the Bearcats on the board first with a goal 12 minutes into the first period. Pluto was assisted by juniors Dominic Naas (Neurensdorf, Zurich, Switzerland/Casper Coyotes WSHL) and Alec Nichols (Cedar Rapids, IA/Northern Iowa Bulls NA3HL). Just three minutes later, McKendree found the back of the net again when junior Tyler Wilson (Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada) lit the lamp with help from senior Ty Watt (Barrie, Ontario, Canada/Rama Aces GMHL) and sophomore Connor Brennan (Castle Rock, CO/Regis Jesuit High School). The Bearcats held a 2-0 lead going into the first intermission.
 
Naas struck quickly into the second period, recording his fourth goal of the series. Senior Lazar Lestaric (Belgrade, Serbia/National Sports Academy USHS) and Nichols were credited with the helpers. Maryville answered back with two unanswered goals to cut the lead to 3-2. Brennan pushed the lead back to two as he netted his third goal of the series with passes from sophomores Aleks Ivasenko (Riga, Latvia/Riga 1. Distance Education High School) and Daniel Nordlander (Göteborg, Sweden/Wasaskolan Tingsryd). Naas closed out the Bearcat scoring with his second of the game to give McKendree a 5-2 lead after the second period.
 
The Saints scored two goals in the final period but McKendree would hold on for a 5-4 victory.
 
The Bearcats will return to the ice on Feb. 16 in Springfield, Ill. as they compete in the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) Tournament.