JAMESTOWN, N.D. - McKendree University women's hockey (1-2-1) collected its first win of the season via an overtime victory, 5-4, over the Jimmies of Jamestown. The Bearcats fought back after going down early, eventually winning thanks to overtime heroics with an unassisted goal by freshman forward Kerstyn Barron at the 52 second mark of the overtime period. McKendree continues it road trip in North Dakota with Saturday and Sunday matchups against Minot State.

The Bearcats struggled to hold back the Jimmies' offense early on as the host fired three goals in the first period. McKendree had struck first, just over five minutes in, off of a goal by sophomore defender Lainy Stienstra. Stienstra was assisted on the play by freshman defender Brooke Lannon and junior forward Jaynee Smothers. 

Jamestown fired three goals after the opening goal by the Bearcats, leading 3-1 at the first intermission period. 

McKendree then cut the deficit to just one score in the second period of play with a solo, unassisted goal by sophomore forward Kiley Hasenfratz, just under 15 minutes into the second period. McKendree trailed by just one score, 3-2, after the second 20 minutes of action. 

The third period was a flurry of scoring again with three goals between the teams. Jamestown fired first with a goal at the 12-minute mark, taking a 4-2 advantage. The Bearcats did not let up following the Jimmies' score, firing two scores to even the game in the third period fo regulation. About half-way through the third period came a score by sophomore forward Larisa Gorgevska-Sharpe, assisted on by Smothers and freshman forward Janaya Laqua. The Gorgevska-Sharpe goal cut the lead to just one for the host Jamestown, 4-3. In the final minutes of the third regulation period came a goal by senior center Camryn Scully, who was assisted by freshman forward Kerstyn Barron and freshman defender Julia Defosse. 

Regulation ended in a 4-4 knot-up between the Bearcats and Jimmies. 

In overtime, Barron pushed the Bearcats to victory with an unassisted goal with under a minute remaining. It marked the first goal of the freshman's career and the game-winner.

McKendree went two of six on power plays in the contest while Jamestown went two of five. 

The goal was tended to by junior Brianna Burke in the contest, collecting a win with 20 saves while the Bearcats allowed just 24 shots-on-frame. 

SCORING RECAP
P1 | #57 Lainy Stienstra via #4 Brooke Lannon, #41 Jaynee Smothers
P2 | #96 Kiley Hasenfratz, unassisted
P3 | #7 Larisa Gorgevska-Sharpe via #41 Jaynee Smothers, #16 Janaya Laqua
P3 | #22 Camryn Scully via #42 Kerstyn Barron, #91 Julia Defosse
OT1 | #42 Kerstyn Barron, unassisted

UP NEXT
McKendree women's hockey continues its roadtrip in North Dakota with a pair of games at Minot State on Saturday and Sunday with the Saturday afternoon matchup begining at 3:45 PM.

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