From McKendree Athletics
By Patrick Knapinski
O’FALLON, Ill. – McKendree University women’s hockey ended the month of October with a strong victory on its home ice at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex, defeating Grand Valley State, 5-1, on Friday night. The Bearcats came out with vigor, pressing the Laker defense throughout the game and scoring three goals in the first period. McKendree will be back on the ice for an away game at Maryville on November 11 at the Maryville Ice Hockey Center for a 5 PM puck drop.
The Bearcats took just over two and a half minutes to fire their first goal of the evening with senior forward Juliana Davis collecting a pass from fellow seniors, wing Quinn Atchison and center Camryn Scully. The goal put the advantage in favor of McKendree with a 1-0 lead until the 10th minute of play when sophomore defender Aria Groot received a pass far out from net from sophomore defender Ashley Hayley and sophomore forward Kiley Hasenfratz. Groot gathered for a booming slapshot, which hit the net to put the Bearcats up 2-0 over the Lakers.
In the latter end of the first period, McKendree added its third goal of the game with a score by the forward Hasenfratz in the 14th minute, which was also a McKendree powerplay. Hasenfratz was assisted by Scully and Groot on the play and put McKendree up 3-0 over the Lakers.
The Bearcats continued to play quickly and press hard in the second period but GVSU fought back, pushing McKendree much further into its defending ice over the second 20 minutes. McKendree still managed to find a gap early with a score, once again, by Davis in the fourth minute off a rotating pass from Scully and Groot. The goal pushed the lead to 4-0 in favor of the hosting-Bearcats.
Grand Valley finally forced one through to the net in the ninth minute of the second period during a powerplay as a one on one scenario allowed for the score.
McKendree added one final goal in teh 20th minute of the second period by the freshman forward Jayna Barnden, who collected a shot rebound off the back board and circled the Lakers’ net to put the puck in. Hasenfratz and sophomore defender Codi Bacon were credited with the assist on the play.
Freshman goaltender Rachel Staresinic, who earned her first start of the season and her collegiate career on the night, played full time in net with 13 saves on 14 shots on goal. It marked Staresinic’s first win in the collegiate ranks.
(Originally published at https://mckbearcats.com/news/2022/10/29/womens-hockey-dominates-grand-valley-state-on-friday-night.aspx)
