LEBANON, Ill. – The Bearcats wrapped up the home portion of the first semester schedule by hosting the 15th-ranked Illinois State University Redbirds on December 1st and 2nd. McKendree and ISU would split the weekend series with the Bearcats taking Friday's game by the score of 7-3, but ISU bounced back with a 6-3 decision on Saturday.
Friday, December 1st
The scoring started early for the Bearcats as Brad Richardson found the back of the net for the fifth time this season on the assists from Joe McCormick and Rycol Davis. In the closing five minutes of the opening stanza, Jonathan Davenport made it 2-0 with Jack Harris and Trevor Roehrig getting the helpers. Harmon Marien netted his first collegiate goal at the 16:48 mark of the period that gave McKendree the 3-0 lead. Cade Rosansky and Tarcisius Tibishkogijig picked up the assists.
After ISU scored the lone goal in the middle frame, the Bearcats extended their lead early and often in the final period. McCormick scored at the 4:08 mark with assists by Richardson and Davis. Just 90 seconds later, Harris scored back-to-back goals 16 seconds apart to make it 6-1 McKendree. Harris than capped off his hat trick with 40 seconds remaining in the contest.
Chad Purdy collected the win in net as he stopped 45 of the 48 ISU shots.
Saturday, December 2nd
In the final game of the weekend, ISU scored three goals in the first six minutes of the 2nd period. Jack Harris got the Bearcats on the board at the 15:08 mark of the period to make it a 3-1 game.
In the third period, Trevor Voyda made it a 3-2 game at the 4:11 mark on the power play with helpers from McCormick and Connor Mullins. Davis tied the game at 3 with assists from McCormick and Richardson.
Unfortunately, the Redbirds would score the next three goals to cap the scoring and take the contest.
McKendree will hit the road for the final time in the 2023 calendar year as they travel to Normal, Illinois for a two-game set against these same Redbirds.
