DEKALB, Ill. - McKendree University men's hockey (7-9, 5-5 MCH) went 1-1 in its final series before winter break, beating Northern Illinois on Friday night, 6-1, while it dropped the Saturday matchup with the Huskies, 5-3. The Bearcats ended the first semester portion of its schedule with six wins in its last seven games. McKendree will have a short break in its season as its next weekend series comes against Illinois on January 13 and 14 in Champaign, Illinois.
Game 1 | Friday, December 2 | W, 6-1
McKendree went off early in the first game of the weekend with three scores in the first period, leading 3-0 over the hosting-Huskies. Striking first at the 8:34 mark was freshman defenseman
Trevor Voyda off assists by freshmen forwards
Matias Alexandrov and
Ben Anderson. Junior forward
Brad Richardson then tacked on the eventual game-winner in the 15th minute, putting McKendree up 2-0. Richardson was assisted by freshman forward
Nikita Eruslanov and senior defenseman
Ryan Radke. The Bearcats' third goal of the period was fired with less than a minute left until intermission as freshman forward
Kyle Munyankuge scored unassisted. McKendree exited period one with a 3-0 advantage.
The Huskies scored their lone goal of the game in the second period, which cut the lead to 3-1. The NIU score was the only goal of the second period.
In the third and final period of the Friday matchup, Munyankuge fired the fourth McKendree goal on the fifth minute on a Bearcats Power Play. Munyankuge's second score came via assists by Voyda and junior forward
Steven Brachert. Eight minutes (13:23) after the fourth goal for the Bearcats, Voyda fired his second of the game, putting the Bearcats up 5-1. McKendree's final score of the game was fired by Richardson in the 17th minute with assists to Radke and Anderson.
The Bearcats held the lead, 6-1, through the final buzzer.
Dylan Dallaire held goal for McKendree with 23 saves, recording the win.
Scoring Recap:
P1 | #55
Trevor Voyda via #49
Matias Alexandrov, #25
Ben Anderson
P1 | #21
Brad Richardson via #22
Nikita Eruslanov, #14
Ryan Radke
P1 | #39
Kyle Munyankuge
P3 | #39
Kyle Munyankuge via #81
Steven Brachert, #55
Trevor Voyda
P3 | #55
Trevor Voyda
P3 | #21
Brad Richardson via #14
Ryan Radke, #25
Ben Anderson
Game 2 | Saturday, December 3 | L, 5-3
In the second game of the weekend and semester finale, McKendree yet again struck first with a power play goal in the eighth minute of the first period. Freshman forward
Alex Kent fired the power play goal as freshmen forwards
Anson Smith and
Joe McCormick got the assists.
NIU came back with a pair of scores following the Bearcats' first goal, taking a 2-1 lead at the first intermission.
The Bearcats then scored two goals in a row, with McCormick scoring in the ninth minute to tie the game. He was assisted by Smith and Kent on the goal. Smith fired his own in the 14th minute to take the lead over the Huskies with assists going to Kent and freshman forward
Rycol Davis on the play. NIU then fired an equalizer in the 16th minute of the second period.
NIU scored twice in the third period to take the game and split the series with McKendree.
Chad Purdy held net for McKendree with 29 saves in the game.
Scoring Recap:
P1 | #9
Alex Kent via #29
Anson Smith, #23
Joe McCormick
P3 | #23
Joe McCormick via #49
Matias Alexandrov, #9
Alex Kent
P3 | #29
Anson Smith via #9
Alex Kent, #71
Rycol Davis
UP NEXT
McKendree men's hockey will be back on the ice following a short break with a matchup at Illinois in Champaign, Illinois on January 13 and 14.
