O'FALLON, Ill. - McKendree University women's hockey opened its season at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex with a scoring outburst to beat the Maryville Saints on Saturday night. Two quick scores in the first period paced the Bearcats and forced the Saints into a corner early on in the game. 

The Bearcats did not hesitate in the opening game of season with a three-goal victory over local-foe Maryville with two of the goals scored coming in the first period. The first goal of the Bearcats' season was put in by junior center Camryn Scully in the fourth minute of action and put McKendree up 1-0. Scully's goal was assisted on by junior wing Quinn Atchison and junior forward Juliana Davis. McKendree's initial insurance goal came during the latter half of the first period (15') and was fired in by freshman forward Laris Gorgevska-Sharpe and marked the first goal of her collegiate career. The freshman was assisted by fellow freshman forward Brittney Kambeitz and freshman defender Lainy Stienstra. 

Maryville put one in the net during the second period to cut the Bearcat lead in half, the goal was scored by forward Sydney Poisson in the ninth minute of the second period. 

McKendree added its third and final goal of the night in the 12th minute of the second period with junior wing Quinn Atchison scoring the eventual game-winner. The Bearcats eventual game-winning goal got assists by junior center Camryn Scully and freshman defender Cassidy Dion.

The Saints scored one final goal in the first minute of the third and final period to cut the Bearcat lead down to one goal again. 

McKendree's goal was tended to by senior Naomi Leasck; she collected 17 saves in the contest.

NOTES:
McKendree ended a two-game losing streak in opening season matches with the victory over the Saints. The last season-opening win for the Bearcats came in 2018-19 over the University of Wisconsin (5-0 | 9/29/2018).

Three Bearcats scored a goal in the opening match: junior center Camryn Scully (1st Period | 4'), freshman forward Larisa Gorgevska-Sharpe (1st Period | 15'), and junior wing Quinn Atchison (2nd Period | 12').

Six McKendree players recorded an assist in the 3-2 victory over Maryville, including initial goal-scorer Camryn Scully.

The Bearcats went one of three on power plays against the Saints while Maryville went one of four. 

UP NEXT:
McKendree women's hockey will return to the ice in a match at Maryville on Sunday, September 26 at 1:30 P.M. 

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