From McKendree Athletics
By Patrick Knapisnki
O’FALLON, Ill. – McKendree University women’s hockey (6-4-1) grabbed its third-straight win to wrap up the first semester on Friday night, defeating Lindenwood, 3-2, at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex. The Bearcats won four of their last five games to end the first half of the year as well. McKendree will return to the ice in mid-Jaunary as they head up to Allendale, MIchigan, to take on GVSU.
The Lions and Bearcats battled hard from the start of the game as these two programs are familiar rivals. McKendree bested the Lions for the first time in the 2021-22 season, with back-to-back wins over Lindenwood late in the year. Lindenwood owned the last two outings over McKendree with a win over the Bearcats duringt the ACHA Tournament last season and won the first bout in the 2022-23 campaign.
Lindenwood scored first with a goal in the seventh minute of the game by Madison Teague. The Lions held the 1-0 advantage until late in the the first period when McKendree fired the equalizer in the 19th minute. The first score of the night for the Bearcats came from sophomore forward Kiley Hasenfratz (3), off assists by fellow sophomore forwards Larisa Gorgevska-Sharpe (3) and Isobelle Hobbs (2). The outing held at 1-1 as it entered the first intermission period. McKendree domnated the puck for much of the period, firing 14 shots while just allowing six from the visiting Lions.
In the second period, McKendree took the lead behind a breakaway score from junior forward Jaynee Smothers, who got a one on one opportunity off a pass from freshman forward Jayna Barnden. Smothers’ score was fired in the 10th minute, marking her second of the year. McKendree led 2-1 following the score. Lindenwood came back with extreme pressure following the goal, scoring less than a minute after the Bearcats. The Lions and Bearcats entered the second intermission period knotted up at 2-2. McKendree continued to push through a multitude of opportunities with 13 more shots on goal versus the Lions’ five.
In the third and final period of the semester featured another strong offensive period from the Bearcats as they fired 13 shots on goal, more than doubling the Lions’ on-frame shots. During an offensive set for McKendree, the Bearcats got off multiple shots as Hobbs gathered a rebound, firing it into the back of the net for the 3-2 lead over Lindenwood in the seventh minute of the period. Hobbs was assisted by Gorgevska-Sharpe and Hasenfratz on the play. It marked Hobbs’ second goal of the year.
The Bearcats held off the Lions for the remainder of the game, taking the game to close out the first half of the season.
McKendree’s net was held in full by freshman goaltender Rachel Staresinic, who improved to 3-1 on the year with 15 saves in the game.
SCORING RECAP
P1 | #96 F Kiley Hasenfratz (3) via #7 Larisa Gorgevska-Sharpe (3), #2 Isobelle Hobbs (2)
P2 | #41 F Jaynee Smothers (2) via #15 Jayna Barnden (3)
P3 | #2 F Isobelle Hobbs (2) via #7 Larisa Gorgevska-Sharpe (4), #96 Kiley Hasenfratz (3)
UP NEXT
McKendree women’s hockey will return to the ice for regular season action in January. The Bearcats will be on the road up in Allendale, Michigan, taking on GVSU on January 12.
(Originally published at https://mckbearcats.com/news/2022/11/20/womens-hockey-knocks-off-lindenwood-for-third-straight-win.aspx)
