U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - McKendree University opened its 2021 season here Saturday by suffering two hard-fought setbacks at the Rare Air Challenge hosted by the United States Air Force Academy at the Academy's Cadet Natatorium.

The Bearcats, who went 7-0 during the shortened 2020-21 season that was played in the spring, opened the Air Force Academy event with an 18-13 loss to Cal Lutheran and then fell 10-5 to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps College. 

In the first game against Cal Lutheran, the Bearcats recorded 14 shots and scored 13 goals, but was outshot 18-14 and outscored in each half, 11-8 in the first half and 7-5 in the second half.

Against Cal Lutheran, graduate transfer Uros Pelemis (Belgrade, Serbia/Fresno Pacific) had an impressive Bearcat debut as he took four shots and scored a game-high tying four goals in the setback. In addition to Pelemis, senior Nico Rodriguez (Bogota, Colombia/Oviedo) added three goals and four shots, while senior Josh Carlson (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way West) and senior Matthew Haygood (Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills) each had two goals for the game. 

Fifth-year senior Chava Osorio (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) scored the first goal of the season just 52 seconds in the game, but the Kingsmen would then score four straight goals to take a 4-1 lead. Carlson would stop the CLU flurry of goals with a goal at the 1:49 mark, but CLU would close the period with two more goals to take a 6-2 lead. 

The Bearcats would open the second period by scoring four consecutive goals, including back-to-back goals by Rodriguez to open the period. Following McKendree's flurry to open the period, CLU would score five of the final seven goals of the period to take an 11-8 lead at the half. 

Both teams combined to score just three goals in the third period as CLU led 13-9 heading into the final eight minutes. In the final period, CLU scored five of the first six goals in the fourth period to extend its lead to 18-10. Pelemis tallied two goals and Haygood added the final goal of the game to cap the scoring. 

Dillon Goldsmith paced CLU with four goals, while Ben Brown and Cole Weiderman each had three goals, while Donald Nicol and Lincoln tallied two goals each. 

Fifth-year senior Ori Scanlon (Orlando, Fla./Olympia) played the whole game in goal for the Bearcats, while Daniel Johnson played the all 32 minutes in goal for the Kingsmen.

Meanwhile, in the second game against the Stags, the Bearcats were outshot, 14-10 in the game in suffering its second loss of the season at the Rare Air Challenge. 

Against CMS, Rodriguez paced the Bearcats with two goals, while Pelemis, Haygood and fifth-year senior Andrew Serrano (Riverside, Calif./Poly) each had a goal in the loss. 

The Stags jumped in front 2-0 in the first period, but the Bearcats would score the final two goals of the period to tie the game at 2-all after the opening eight minutes. CMU, though, would outscore the Bearcats, 4-1 in the second period to take a 6-3 lead at the half. 

CMS added two more goals in the third period as they led 8-4 going to the fourth period. In the final period, the Stags would score two straight goals to take a 10-4 lead, before Rodriguez capped the scoring on a man-advantage goal with 1:34 left in the game. 

Will Clark and CJ Box each paced CMS with three goals each in the win. 

Scanlon played all 32 minutes in goal for the Bearcats, while Noah Smith also played 32 minutes in goal and had one save to go with allowing five goals. 

McKendree (0-2) concludes action in the Rare Challenge on Sunday, Sept. 5 with a pair of games in the Rare Air Challenge. The Bearcats open the day with an 8:30 a.m. MT game against Ottawa (Ariz.) University and then will conclude the event at 12 p.m. MT against the host school, Air Force.