Bearcats Get Back on Track with Two Wins over Midland

From McKendree Athletics

By Patrick Knapinski

 

O’FALLON, Ill. – McKendree University men’s hockey (9-11, 7-5 MCH) grabbed a pair of victories on its home ice over Midland on Saturday and Sunday, winning the first game via shootout and dominating the second game. The Bearcats got back on track after dropping its first two contests in 2023 to Illinois. McKendree hosts Northern Illinois on February 3-4 to wrap-up its home slate for the season before heading off to visit Midland on February 10-11.

Game 1 | Saturday, January 28 | Game Center

The Bearcats went into their homestand looking to get back into the win column, kicking off the weekend with a pair of goals in the first period. Midland struck first but McKendree came back strong as freshman forward Jonathan Davenport scored on a power play off assists by defensemen Connor Mullins and Trevor Voyda. Forward Cayden Brilley then fired a second Bearcats goal in the closing minutes of the first period with Davenport getting the assist. McKendree led 2-1 at the end of the first 20 minutes of play.

Midland put up a second game-tying goal in the 16th minute of the second period but the Bearcats took a 3-2 advantage in the 19th minute of the period. Forward Daniel Nomerstad fired the third goal of the game off assists from forwards Chris Noble and Jack Sumner.

Midland tied the game in the third period, eventually resulting in a shootout. The Bearcats won the shootout, 2-0, with freshmen forwards Matias Alexandrov and Cade Rosansky both firing goals.

Freshman goalie Dylan Dallaire got the win with 44 saves in the outing.

 

Game 2 | Sunday, January 29 | Game Center

McKendree went for back-to-back wins with the Sunday contest and started quickly. In the first period, forward Trevor Roehrig fired an unassisted goal and his first of the year, which was followed-up by forward Joe McCormick off an assist by Mullins. McKendree led 2-0 over the Warriors at the end of the first.

Midland added one score early in the second period which was met by four more Bearcat goals. McCormick added his second of the game with Rosansky and forward Kyle Munyankuge getting assists on the play. Rosansky then fired his first regulation goal of the weekend as Munyankuge assisted on the play for his second assist. Davenport scored the third McKendree goal of the period with Brilley and Voyda both dishing-out assists on the goal. Brilley fired the fourth and final goal of the second period for McKendree on an unassisted play. Midland scored a second goal fo the game to end the period.

The Bearcats fired two in the third and final period of the game with Davenport scoring another goal with assists by Alexandrov and Nomerstad. Alexandrov then fired his regulation goal of the weekend with Munyankuge and Mullins getting the assists on the play.

Dallaire got the win in the game but played just over half of the game with 30 total saves. Sophomore Chad Purdy then took the net, grabbing nine saves.

 

UP NEXT

McKendree men’s hockey hosts Northern Illinois on Friday, February 3 at 7:45PM and Saturday, February 4 at 3:15PM. The Friday matchup will serve as Senior Night for the Bearcats.

(Originally published at https://mckbearcats.com/news/2023/1/30/d1-mens-hockey-mens-hockey-takes-pair-of-wins.aspx)