KINGSTON, R.I. - McKendree University women's hockey earned back-to-back victories on Sunday morning, defeating Rhode Island 4-1 to go 2-1 in its trip to the east coast. The Bearcats Improved to 7-3 with the win. 

The Bearcats earned a winning record during the east coast road stint with their back-to-back victories, going 2-1 in the northeast by beating UMass on Saturday and URI on Sunday. McKendree outscored its opponents nine to seven over the three-game weekend while improving to 4-2 overall since its opening series against Maryville (9/25, 9/26, and 10/12, 10/15) this fall.

McKendree did not waste much time in taking the lead with a score from sophomore forward Jaynee Smothers only 42 seconds into the match. The goal by Smothers was assisted on by freshman defender Aria Groot. The first period concluded with no further scoring by either squad and the Bearcats leading 1-0. 

The second period led to three goals from the Bearcats, which pushed the lead to 4-0 over the host. The eventual game-winning score was fired by freshman forward Brittney Kambeitz in the fifth minute of the period with Groot dishing-out a second assist on the score. McKendree's second score of the period and inital insurance goal came from junior defender Madison Puffalt. Puffalt collected the goal just over one minute following Kambeitz goal and was assisted by junior wing Quinn Atchison and junior center Camryn Scully. The Bearcats fourth and final goal of the contest was fired by Groot, marking three of four scores with her involved. Groot scored at the 4:27 mark with freshman defender Lainy Stienstra dishing out the assist. 

The lone score by the host, Rhode Island, was scored in the ninth minute of the final period and cut the Bearcats lead to three goals. 


UP NEXT: 
McKendree women's hockey will return to the ice in January at home against Midland University at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex.

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