LEBANON, Ill. – The McKendree M3 Hockey team won its first game of the season in dramatic fashion, scoring in the final seconds of overtime to pull ahead of Drury at the Metro Rec Plex.
McKendree started out on the offensive, taking the lead in the first period of a great shot from Levin Berden. Ryan Ecklift and Atticus Arth were both credited for an assist to set up the Bearcat goal. From then on it was all Panthers as they scored all three of their goals in the second period.
However, McKendree responded right back in the third period, first Ghenrikh Rhozkov was able to find the back of the net with just over five minutes after the intermission. His goal was once again assisted by Ecklift to get his second assist of the night. Then with 7:10 left to go in the third period, Connor Tloczkowski brought the score level at three goals for each side. His goal was assisted by Thomas Durrett and Rhozkov.
As overtime started, both teams played slowly waiting for an opportunity to strike, and that moment came for Jake Demacos. With just under a minute left Demacos broke away from the Drury defense and made a move around the goalie to seal the win for the Bearcats.
In net for the Bearcats was Dominic Hite who racked up 45 saves in the contest.
The Bearcats head on the road to face Purdue in a weekend series at the Pop Weaver Youth Pavilion. Those games will be played at 7:00 PM on Friday and 11:30 AM on Saturday.
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