From McKendree Athletics
By Patrick Knapinski
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. | Centene Community Ice Center – McKendree University women’s hockey (5-3, 3-3 WMCH) collected two more road wins on the weekend with a 5-2 Saturday night victory and a 2-1 Sunday afternoon result over the Lions of Lindenwood. The Bearcats have won four-straight games, defeating Miami (OH) and Michigan-Dearborn prior the the Lindenwood sweep. McKendree is back on its home ice for its next pair of games, taking on Colorado on October 20 and 21 at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex.
Game 1 | Saturday, October 14
McKendree’s second game of the weekend found them across the St. Louis area, taking on local-foe Lindenwood on the Lions’ home ice. The Bearcats found success and a lead early, taking a 2-0 advantage into the first intermission period. Freshman defense Charlotte Cloutier started things off with her first collegiate score in the sixth minute of play with sophomore forward Jayna Barnden dishing-out the assist. The second goal came during a power play push as sophomore forward Kerstyn Barron found the back of the net behind assists from Barnden and junior defense Aria Groot.
The Bearcats continued their push in the second period as two more goals were fired in power play situations with junior forward Kiley Hasenfratz striking in the sixth minute as Barron dished-off the assist. Lindenwood added one back between Bearcats scores, making it 3-1. In the 12th minute, McKendree added its third power play score of the night as Barnden fired her fourth goal of the 2023-24 campaign to make the lead 4-1 at the end of the second period.
In the third and final period, Barnden and the Bearcats tacked on another insurance score in the 12th minute as Barnden found the net again off an assist by Groot.
The Bearcats mustered 34 shots on-frame with freshman goaltender Fruzsina Szabo recording the win in net with 25 saves in full-time.
Game 2 | Sunday, October 15
The Bearcats were held for over two full periods with no scores to begin the third and final game of the weekend, as the Lions led 1-0 at the beginning of the third period.
McKendree found its stride in the third period with two scores as sophomore forward Janaya Laqua fired her second score of the season. Groot dished-out the helper of the play as McKendree tied the contest at 1-1 in the 13th minute. The Bearcats and Lions battled onwards with the visiting Bearcats firing the game-winning goal in the 18th minute as Barron found the net again on the weekend. Groot and freshman forward Abby Jeffers got the assist on the game-winner.
The Bearcats out-shot the Lions with 38 on-goal attempts while senior goaltender Brianna Burke grabbed the victory in net with 21 saves on the day.
UP NEXT
McKendree will be back on its home ice at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex for its next games, taking on Colorado on October 20 and 21.
(Originally published at https://mckbearcats.com/news/2023/10/15/womens-soccer-womens-hockey-wins-fourth-straight-sweeps-lions-in-weekend-series.aspx)
