(ST. LOUIS, Mo., March 7) – The McKendree University women's hockey team advanced to the next round of the Women's Midwest College Hockey (WMCH) Championship tournament with a 4-3 defeat of Minnesota late Friday night. The Bearcats will now face Liberty University at 6:15pm on Saturday.
 
McKendree now sits at 15-10-1-1 overall on the season.
 
The Bearcats wasted no time getting on the board as senior Delayne Ivanowski (Kirkwood, MO/Kirkwood) scored 27 seconds into the opening period with help from freshman Madison Puffalt (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame) and senior Alyssa Albee (Brookfield, WI/Brookfield Central). Just past the midway point of the period, junior Callie Hoadley (Hanover, MA/Hanover High School) pushed the lead to two off a pass from senior Lara Wentz (Bismark, ND/). After the end of the first period, McKendree held a 2-0 lead.
 
In the second, period, Minnesota cut into the lead with a goal 11 minutes into the period. The Bearcats fired 12 shots on net in the period but were unable to find the back of the net, taking a 2-1 lead into the final period of play.
 
The Golden Gophers even the contest at two shortly into the third period. Freshman Camryn Scully (Prince George, BC, Canada/Prince George Secondary School) scored the game-winning goal with eight minutes remaining in the period after connecting with Ivanowski and sophomore Kayla Waldbillig (West Kelowna, BC, Canada/Mount Boucherie Secondary School). Two minutes later, Albee added an insurance goal, pushing the score to 4-2. Minnesota would score with 30 seconds remaining, not enough as the Bearcats would go onto victory, 4-3.
 
Sophomore goalie, Naomi Leasck (St. Louis, MO/Lindbergh High School) made 13/16 saves in the victory.