LEBANON, Ill. – The Bearcat men's hockey team returned to the ice on September 29th and 30th for a two game series against the Midland University Warriors at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex. After two spirited contests, the Bearcats and Warriors split the series. McKendree took Friday night's game by the score of 8-4, while Midland shut out the Bearcats 4-0 on Saturday afternoon.
Friday, September 29th
In a game that saw 80 combined penalty minutes and 12 goals, the Bearcats would feed off the home crowd energy pull away to an 8-4 victory. Steven Brachert got the scoring started early just 60 seconds in with his second of the season on the assists by Brad Richardson and Trevor Roehrig. With Midland in the penalty box for roughing, Alex Kent deflected a Richardson shot from the point to put the Bearcats up 2-0 at the 5:07 mark.
After the Warriors cut the lead in half, Jack Sumner gave the Bearcats a two goal lead with six seconds left in the opening stanza on assists from Noah Scrum and Harmon Marien.
As the second period started, goals came in a hurry. Midland tied the game at three, with two goals in the opening minute of the period. Richardson answered Midland's goals just 15 seconds later to give the Bearcats a 4-3 lead. At the 8:17 mark, Kent found the back of the net for his second of the contest with assists from Matias Alexandrov and Jonathan Davenport. Rycol Davis and Alexandrov gave McKendree a three goal cushion late in the period.
Joe McCormick scored a shorthanded goal in the final 30 seconds of the contest to wrap up the scoring.
Chad Purdy saw all 60 minutes between the pipes and picked up the win, while stopping 30 of the Warriors' 34 shots.
Game Leaders
Brad Richardson: Goal, 3 Assists
Alex Kent: 2 Goals
Saturday, September 30th
During the Saturday afternoon contest, Midland was able to keep their offense alive as they would shutout the Bearcats by the score of 4-0.
Despite allowing 13 shots in the first period, the McKendree defense stood tall, only allowing one Warrior goal at the 11:02 mark. The score would stand until late in the 2nd period. Midland added two goals just a minute apart, one being on the power play to make it a 3-0 game. The Warriors added a fourth goal in the 3rd period as well on the power play.
Chad Purdy stopped 33 of the 37 shots he faced for the Bearcats.
