(SIOUX CENTER, Iowa, March 8) – The McKendree University men's D3 hockey team closed out its season with a 4-2 loss to Milwaukee in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Pacific Regional semi-final game on Friday night.
The Bearcats finish the season at 9-13.
McKendree jumped out early as sophomore
Garrett Poole (Columbia, IL/Columbia High School) put lit the lamp just five minutes into the opening period. Fellow sophomores
Derek Northrop (St. Louis, MO/De Smet Jesuit High School) and
Christian Blandina (Glen Carbon, IL/Edwardsville High School) were credited with assists. Freshman goalie
Joey Bernardini (Chesterfield, MO/Christian Brothers College High School) stopped 10 Panther shots in the first period as the Bearcats carried a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
In the second period, senior
Nick Brendel (Fenton, MO/Fox High School) pushed the Bearcats up two with help from freshman
Cayden Brilley (Decatur, IL/St. Teresa). Bernardini stood strong once again, turning away 14 shots in the period to keep McKendree up 2-0 after two periods of play.
Milwaukee caught fire in the final period, putting four pucks in the back of the net to take a 4-2 lead over McKendree. The Bearcats were unable to mount the comeback as they fell to Milwaukee in the season finale.
In the contest, Bernardini made 38/42 saves for a .904 save percentage.
