O'FALLON, Ill. | McKendree Metro Rec Plex - McKendree University women's hockey (8-2-0, 3-1-0 WMCH) swept another weekend series with the Bearcats knocking down the Rams of Rhode Island, 5-1 on Friday, October 11 and 3-0 on Saturday, October 12. The Bearcats dominated the ice over the two games with three career-first scores on the weekend. McKendree continues its home stretch on October 18 with a Friday matinee at 2:00PM against Michigan-Dearborn at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex.

Game 1 vs URI | W, 5-1
The Bearcats looked to regain their footing after a light stumble up in Michigan and found a push to do upend the Rams behind an early lead. McKendree fired its first goal on a power play in the 18th minute of the first period with sophomore defense Allison Hoschka finding the back of the net. The goal marked Hoschka's first collegiate goal with dish-outs going to junior forward Jayna Barnden and senior defense Aria Groot. McKendree led 1-0 after the first period. 

The second period saw the eventual game-winner be fired in the sixth minute as freshman forward Alexandra Binning scored her first collegiate goal and game-winning score behind assists by sophomore defense Charlotte Cloutier and sophomore forward Julia Koski. Following the second Bearcats' goal, junior forward Kerstyn Barron tallied her fifth goal of the campaign to give McKendree a 3-0 lead with fellow junior forward Janaya Laqua getting the assist. The second period concluded with McKendree holding its 3-0 advantage. 

The third and final period brought the win for McKendree but not before senior forward Isobelle Hobbs scoring in the 15th minute off a helper by junior defense Julia Defosse. URI found the back fo the net in the 17th, cutting the lead to 4-1, but the Bearcats struck back before the final horn. The 19th minute found the Bearcats in a power play with senior defense Ashley Hayley firing her career goal behind assists from senior forward Larisa Gorgevska-Sharpe and freshman forward Kendra Shumaker. The assist from Shumaker was her first collegiate dish-out. 

The Bearcats held their 5-1 lead to capture game one fot he weekend as junior goaltender Rachel Staresinic grabbing the victory in net with 16 saves.

Scoring
P1 - PP | #23 Allison Hoschka (1) via #15 Jayna Barnden (5), #13 Aria Groot (8)
P2 | #28 Alexandra Binning (1) via #25 Charlotte Cloutier (2), #40 Julia Koski (3)
P2 | #22 Kerstyn Barron (5) via #14 Janaya Laqua (5)
P3 | #2 Isobelle Hobbs (3) via #91 Julia Defosse (1)
P3 - PP | #24 Ashley Hayley (1) via #7 Larisa Gorgevska-Sharpe (4), #21 Kendra Shumaker (1)

Game 2 vs URI | W, 3-0
McKendree looked to hold its home ice in game two against the Rams with the the second period being the difference-maker for the Bearcats. Even with an extreme out-pacing by McKendree, including 17 to 2 in shots over the first period, the opening 20 minutes ended 0-0.

McKendree found its groove in the second with three goals as Groot tallied the game-winner in the eighth minute, an unassisted score. The Bearcats fired two more in the period with Gorgevska-Sharpe scoring in the 13th minute and sophomore forward Abby Jeffers closing up the scoring in the 18th. 

The Bearcats dominated the puck, firing 43 shots over the contest while holding the Rams to just seven. The second game mirrored game one as McKendree put up 52 shots versus URI's 17. 

Junior goaltender Paige Hunt tallied her second shutout in as many games this season with seven saves in the game two victory over URI.

Scoring
P2 | #13 Aria Groot (4), unassisted
P2 | #7 Larisa Gorgevska-Sharpe (2) via #91 Julia Defosse (2), #21 Kendra Shumaker (2)
P2 | #3 Abigail Jeffers (1) via #14 Janaya Laqua (6), #24 Ashley Hayley (1)

UP NEXT
Oct. 18 | 2:00PM vs. Michigan-Dearnborn | McKendree Metro Rec Plex - O'Fallon, Illinois | Watch

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