(EAST ALTON, Ill., Sept. 28) – The McKendree University men's D1 hockey team completed the two game sweep of SIU-Edwardsville with an 8-2 triumph over the host Cougars on Saturday night.
 
The Bearcats will take a brief hiatus, returning to the ice on Oct. 16 when they host Maryville University for their home opener.
 
McKendree jumped out to a two goal lead behind goals from sophomore Cory Robinson (St. Charles, MO/) and senior Dominic Naas (Neurensdorf, Zurich, Switzerland/Casper Coyotes WSHL). Robinson scored a power play goal with assists from sophomore Otasowie Omoregie (Pickering, Ontario, Canada/) and senior Alec Nichols (Cedar Rapids, IA/Northern Iowa Bulls NA3HL). The Cougars would get a late goal in the period to bring the score to 2-1 after the opening 20 minutes.
 
To open the second period, junior Ryan Reader (Granite City, IL/Granite City High School) scored his first goal of the season on the power play with help from Naas and freshman Connor Mullins (Whitby, Ontario, Canada/Donald A. Wilson Secondary School). Omoregie would jump into the scoring column to extend the lead to 4-1, connecting with Robinson. The Bearcat defense held sturdy, shutting out the Cougars in the period.
 
Southern Illinois scored the first goal of the final period to cut the lead to two. The Bearcats answered back with four unanswered goals to bury the host Cougars. Junior Connor Brennan (Castle Rock, CO/Regis Jesuit High School) notched back to back goals to extend the lead. Brennan connected with Omoregie, Robinson, and Nichols on the two goals. Lazar Lestaric (Belgrade, Serbia/National Sports Academy USHS) jumped in on the action with a just past the halfway mark of the period. Naas and junior Shayne Pluto (Calgary, Alberta, Canada/Central Memorial High School) were credited with the assists. Omoregie finished off the scoring with his second goal of the game, unassisted. McKendree would go on to complete the sweep with an 8-2 victory.
 
Freshman Kayne Pasquet (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada/Peacock Collegiate) secured his first collegiate win as a Bearcat. Pasquet made 26 saves in the effort.