After falling behind in the first period, women's ACHA ice hockey scored the next five goals unanswered to defeat No. 8 seed McKendree 5-1 in the first round of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Women's Division I National Championship Wednesday afternoon at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri.

The Bearcats jumped in front just 3:11 into the contest and held a 1-0 advantage into the second, but the No. 5 seeded Lions turned the tide midway through the period with three goals in just over four minutes. McKenzie Drost sounded the horn for Lindenwood at 9:47, then Madison Teague split the pipes at 11:16 on the power play. Anaïs Fortier rounded out the flurry with an even-strength effort at 13:57. The Lions put the game away with two more late in the third, the first from the stick of Rylee Gee off a pass from Teague at 14:29. Ardyn Hawryshko netted the puck just 28-seconds later on the power play for the final Lindenwood goal.

McKendree outshot the Lions 26 to 17 and Emily McDonald stopped 25 of the 26 shots she faced to earn the victory.

Lindenwood faces No. 4 Adrian in second round action March 18 at 10 a.m. The Bulldogs throttled No. 10 Colorado 8-0 in the first round. The game takes place at the Centene Community Ice Center Friday morning.