(FRISCO, Tex., March 27) – The McKendree University women's hockey team opened up the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) National Tournament with a 3-2 loss to the No. 2 ranked Adrian Bulldogs early Wednesday night. The higher seeded Bulldogs recorded the game-winning goal with 24 seconds left in the game to seal the victory.
 
The Bearcats will look to even the series on Thursday with a scheduled puck drop of 4:00p.m. back at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Tex.
 
McKendree struck first as sophomore Dakota Peterson (Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada) stole the puck in the Bulldog zone. Peterson weaved her way around a defender and ripped a shot past the Adrian netminder to put the Bearcats up 1-0 with eight minutes left in the first period. The Bulldogs evened the score on the power play just two minutes later. The contest was tied at one heading into the first intermission.
 
Five minutes into the second period, Adrian took the lead off a cross crease pass. Just a minute later, junior Delayne Ivanowski (Kirkwood, MO/Kirkwood) notched her first goal of the season to notch the score at two. Assists were credited to sophomore Paris Suzuki (Covina, CA/Covina High School) and freshman Brittany Koch (Bloomfield Hills, MI). McKendree and Adrian were tied as they headed into the final period of play.
 
After back and forth action, the Bulldogs found the back of the net with 24 seconds remaining, would clinch the 3-2 victory over McKendree.
 
Freshman goalie Naomi Leasck (St. Louis, MO/Lindbergh High School) made 43 saves in her effort between the pipes.