(O'FALLON, Ill., Feb. 29) – The McKendree University men's D1 hockey team captured a 3-2 victory over Illinois State on Senior Night. Senior Dominic Naas (Neurensdorf, Zurich, Switzerland/Casper Coyotes WSHL) scored the game-winning goal with two minutes remaining in the third period.
 
The Bearcats finish the regular season with an 18-5-1 overall record and 16-3-1 record in Midwest College Hockey (MCH) play.
 
Illinois State struck first with a goal 10 minutes into the opening period. The Bearcats fired 12 shots on net in the period but were unable to light the lamp, behind 1-0 heading into the first intermission.
 
Senior Tyler Wilson (Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada/) even the score at one after connecting with junior Shayne Pluto (Calgary, Alberta, Canada/Central Memorial High School) for a short-handed goal. McKendree locked the Redbirds down defensively, holding a 1-1 score into the final period.
 
Just 15 seconds into the final period, Illinois State jumped ahead on an unassisted goal. The Bearcats scored the equalizing goal with five minutes remaining as junior Ryan Reader (Granite City, IL/Granite City High School) found the back of the net on the power-play. Sophomore Nikita Sokov (Pervourlask, Russia/School #15) was credited with an assist. With two minutes remaining in the period, Naas put away a loose puck to score the game-winning goal, a power-play goal. Pluto and Wilson were given assists on the goal.
 
In the crease, Andrew Best (Midland, Ontario, Canada/Cambridge Bears Junior A team) made 26/27 saves, good for a .962 save percentage.
 
The Bearcats will play in the MCH tournament next weekend, March 6-8 at the Maryville University Hockey Center. McKendree holds the top seed in the tournament after securing the regular season championship.