A slow start from the Lions that resulted in just two shots on goal in the opening period led to a 7-0 shutout loss to McKendree Friday night at the Metro Rec-Plex in O'Fallon, Illinois.

Meanwhile, the Bearcats peppered Lindenwood goaltender Evi Allerding with 20 pucks in the first resulting in four goals. The first came on the power play at the 7:11 mark after a tripping penalty on the Lions. McKendree added an even-strength effort at 10:45 and another unassisted at 12:51. The final score of the frame came at 13:57 and the Bearcats carried a 4-0 advantage into the first intermission.

Lindenwood had multiple chances to put a dent in the deficit in the second due to four McKendree penalties, but the opposite happened with three more added to the Bearcat ledger. The Lions had just killed off a penalty, their lone infraction of the period, when McKendree split the pipes at 13:32. That was enough for Lindenwood head coach Andrew Miller to switch netminders to Erica Didocha. It initially helped, but McKendree eventually put two on the board in the final three minutes at 17:05 and 17:24.

Things settled down in the third as the Bearcats protected their seven-goal advantage. Neither team scored and McKendree skated to the 7-0 victory.

The Bearcats outshot the Lions 45-16 overall. Allerding stopped 27 of 32 pucks while Didocha saved 11 of 13. Lindenwood was scoreless on six power play chances while McKendree was successful once on three opportunities.

The loss dropped the Lions to 0-7 overall and to 0-4 in Women's Midwest College Hockey action. They head back on the road for a two-game conference series against Liberty October 17-18. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT Friday night and at 4:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon at the LaHaye Ice Center in Lynchburg, Virginia.