FREMONT, Neb. - McKendree University women's hockey dropped a pair of matchups to Midland University over the weekend by narrow margins, dropping the Saturday matchup, 3-1, and the Sunday contest, 2-1. The Bearcats will be back in action at the end of the week against the University of Minnesota on Friday, February 18 at McKendree Metro Rec Plex.

Game 1 | Saturday, February 12
The Bearcats dropped game one narrowly on a 3-1 count to Midland but held the contest at 0-0 through the end of the first period. Sophomore goaltender Brianna Burke recorded 18 saves on the Warriors' 18 total shots in the first 20 minutes of action. The Bearcats got off seven shots in the period as well. Midland came back in the second period with a pair of goals to own a 2-0 lead. Midland scored at the 18:22 and 16:50 marks with assisted goals. Burke nabbed five of seven total shots in the period while McKendree put up four shots on goal. The Bearcats fired back early on in the third period with a score in under five minutes at the 15:30 mark. The Bearcats' first goal was scored by freshman forward Kiley Hasenfratz and was unassisted. The Warriors held off the final McKendree attacks to take game one of the weekend. 

Women's Hockey head coach Derek Pallardy on Game 1: "Our effort is something we could be proud of during this game but we lacked execution in a few key moments. Bri {Brianna Burke} had a great performance in the net, which gave us a chance to win."

Game 2 | Sunday, February 13
McKendree was poised to make a comeback in the second game of the weekend against sixth-ranked Midland but was unble to push throuhg a tough Warrior defense to get the win. Midland went up in the first period with a score in under five minutes at the 15:23 mark and then once against to close out the period with just 1:05 remaining, taking a 2-0 lead out of the first period. Senior goaltender Naomi Leasck grabbed nine saves in the first period on 11 total shots. McKendree sent seven shots on goal in the first 20 minutes. The second period period featured just four shots on goal for the Bearcats but they made the most of it with a score at the 11:44 mark by sophomore forward Jaynee Smothers, who was assisted by freshman forward Larisa Gorgevska-Sharpe. The goal cut the Warrios' lead to just one score, 2-1. The second 20 minute period was a flurry of attacks by Midland with a total of 19 saves by Leasck for McKendree. The final period led to no scores, giving the Warriors a 2-1 vicotry over the visiting-Bearcats. Leasck totaled 33 saves in the game.

Pallardy on Game 2: "I thought we controlled the game, especially after the first period when we made some adjustments. The players gave a great effort and deserved a better result, but Midland played a really good game as well."

UP NEXT
McKendree women's hockey will be back on the ice on Friday, February 18, against Minnesota at 4:30pm at McKendree Metro Rec Plex.

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