(O'FALLON, Ill., Feb. 24) – The McKendree University D2 hockey team swept Maryville University 8-3 on Wednesday night at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex.
 
The Bearcats got on the board first within four minutes. Cayden Brilley (Decatur, IL/St. Teresa) scored his first goal of the night, assisted by Garrett Poole (Columbia, IL/Columbia). Halfway through the period, Brilley scored again with the help of Derek Northrop (St. Louis, MO/DeSmet Jesuit). With only two minutes left on the clock, Northrop made his own mark with an assist from Trevor Wolf (Wellington, FL/Wellington High School). McKendree took the lead 3-0 after the first period.
 
The Bearcats netted two more goals during the second period. The first was by Christian Blandina (Glen Carbon, IL/Edwardsville High School), assisted by Daniel Nomerstad (Oslo, Norway/Lambertseter VGS). The second was by Brilley, his third for the night. Northrop was credited with the assist. The Saints scored two consecutive goals to close out the second period 5-2.
 
Brilley jumped on the board just minutes into the final period for his fourth goal of the night, this time unassisted. Nick Nelson (St. Charles, MO/Francis Howell) connected with Nomerstad and Blandina to score the Bearcats' seventh goal. McKendree continued the sweep two minutes later with a goal by Tyler Mann (Manteno, IL/Manteno) and an assist from Riley Brown (Granite City, IL/Granite City). Maryville got one final goal in before the end of the period, falling 8-3 to the Bearcats.
 
In the net, Adam Siek (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada/St. Mary's Catholic Secondary School) made 34/37 saves for the Bearcat win.