CHESTERFIELD, Mo. - McKendree University women's hockey beat local foe Maryville on back-to-back nights to open its season with another 3-2 victory, this time on the Saints' home ice.

The Bearcats opened their season on Saturday night with a 3-2 victory over Maryville at the Rec Plex and the story did not change on Sunday afternoon, only the location. McKendree traveled across the river to the Maryville Ice Hockey Center and scored three more goals enroute to its second win in as many days. 

There have been six different goal-scorers for McKendree following the 2-0 start with three separate individuals scoring during both games this season. The first goal of the night came from sophomore forward Jaynee Smothers late in the first period off a pass from freshman defender Cassidy Dion. it marked Dion's second assist of the year in as many games. The contest was tied 1-1 following the first period of play with Maryville scoring in the fifth minute. McKendree's second goal came during the second period via freshman defender Erika Wenzel, Wenzel's goal was assisted on by junior center Camryn Scully (second of the year) and senior defender Brittany Koch. 

Maryville kept the game even at 2-2 following the second 20 minutes of play but McKendree went out in the third and final period with an offensive push to take the match. The third goal for the Bearcats came from freshman forward Isobelle Hobbs and was assisted on by freshman forwards Brittany Kambeitz and Larisa Gorgevska-Sharpe. 

McKendree held the line on defense with senior goaltender Naomi Leasck, who collected 28 saves in the victory and now has 45 on the season. 

NOTES:
McKendree beat Maryville on back-to-back nights, both in 3-2 fashion, to open the 2021-22 season. The Bearcats first defeated the Saints on 9/25 at the Rec Plex and then on 9/26 at Maryville. 

Six players have recorded a goal over two matches for the Bearcats, including: junior Camryn Scully (Prince George, British Columbia), freshman Larisa Gorgevska-Sharpe (West Palm Beach, Florida), junior Quinn Atchison (Victoria, British Columbia), sophomore Jaynee Smothers (Buckner, Missouri), freshman Erika Wenzel (Calgary, Alberta), and freshman Isobelle Hobbs (Deloraine, Manitoba). 

Senior goalie Naomi Leasck has amassed 45 saves in two contests, both of which were wins for the Bearcats.


UP NEXT:
McKendree women's hockey wil be back in action on October 12 and 15 against Maryville, once again, first hosting the Saints at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex and then returning to Chesterfield for its fourth game of the year.

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