O'FALLON, Ill. | McKendree Metro Rec Plex - McKendree University women's hockey (15-10-2) closed out its regular season slate on Saturday night with a 5-2 victory over local-foe Lindenwood while also celebrating two seniors prior to puck drop in #41 Jaynee Smothers and #31 Brianna Burke. The Bearcats broke out their offensive prowess in the third period with a relentless attack, scoring three goals to seal the prime time win over the Lions. McKendree heads off to Lynchburg, Tennessee for its first postseason endeavor of the 2023-24 campaign, the WMCH Tournament at Liberty University on February 22-24.

McKendree went down in the first period, 2-0, against one of its crosstown rivals in Lindenwood but ferociously made its comeback in the latter half of the first 20 minutes. The Bearcats started their scoring with junior forward Brittney Kambeitz dropping in a score off dish outs from junior defense Lainy Stienstra and junior defense Aria Groot. In the closing minutes of the first period, senior forward Jaynee Smothers fired the game-tying score during a power play, making the contest 2-2. Sophomore defense Julia Defosse and sophomore defense Brooke Lannon got the assists on the game-tying goal by Smothers. 

The second period saw no scoring from the two feisty squads with just 12 shots sent between the Lions and Bearcats. 

In the third, McKendree pressed forward into Lindenwood's back line, leading to a chance for sophomore foward Kerstyn Barron. Barron broke out ahead of the Lions' defense but was taken down as she neared the goal, causing a penalty shot opportunity for the sophomore. Barron played off the goaltender late in her penalty shot, allowing her to fire the shot into the upper right corner for the lead. In the following stretch, the Bearcats added two insurance scores as sophomore forward Jayna Barnden sliced through the defense two separate times and found the back of the net to push the lead up to three goals. 

McKendree's offense did not let up throughout the game as the team fired 44 shots with 17 in the final period. In goal, senior Brianna Burke earned the win with nine saves while not allowing a score after the first ten minutes of action.

Scoring
P1 | #11 Brittney Kambeitz (4) via #57 Lainy Stienstra (5), #13 Aria Groot (29)
P1 | #41 Jaynee Smothers (6) via #91 Julia Defosse (2), #4 Brooke Lannon (4)
P3 | #22 Kerstyn Barron (8) - Penalty Shot
P3 | #15 Jayna Barnden (13) via #13 Aria Groot (30), #3 Abby Jeffers (14)
P3 | #15 Jayna Barnden (14) via #13 Aria Groot (31), #3 Abby Jeffers (15)

UP NEXT
McKendree begins its postseason endeavors on February 22-24 at the WMCH Tournament at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. 

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