Champaign, IL - A breakout 3rd period, with the Illini scoring 5 goals in a 12 minute span, helped the Illini stampede over the Bronchos of Central Oklahoma with a 7-0 win. Illini goaltender Mike Burda was perfect in net, turning away all 21 of the UCO shots, earning his first shut out of the season.

The came out strong against the Bronchos in the first period with quick skating and sharp passing, leading them to out shoot Central Oklahoma in the first period 16 to 6, but it wasn't until just under thirteen minutes into the period when the Illini would finally be able to capitalize on a power play and find a way to get the puck past UCO's Srgo. With an Alex Park blast from the top of the slot, senior Johnny Liang redirected the shot from in front of the goal to the back of the net for the first goal of the night. The remainder of the period would remain scoreless, letting the Illini take the 1-0 lead into the break.

Another power play opportunity early in the second period led to the Illini's second goal and a 2 point lead. At the 4:29 mark of the period, junior Jason Nemeth launched a shot from within the slot that zipped past the Bronchos' netminder, Sgro. Assisting on the Nemeth goal were Jordan Pringle and Johnny Liang. Neither team would be able to take advantage of other power play chances during the period, so the score would remain 2-0 in favor of the Illini at the buzzer. The Illini would once again outshoot the Bronchos 16-6.

In the third period the wheels would come off the Bronchos' wagon and the Illini would take advantage of it. Sophomore Mark Ergun would kick off the scoring at the four and a half minute mark in the period, as freshman Daniel Cohen would make a pass from behind the Central Oklahoma goal to Ergun in the slot, who would in turn put it in the Bronchos goal, netting his first goal of the season. Team Captain Drew Heredia wouldn't be left out of the scoring frenzy, chipping in a shot from the side of the net at the 8:10 mark in the third, assisting on the goal Jason Nemeth and Johnny Liang. One minute and eight seconds later, junior Jordan Pringle would skate in, cross along the top of the crease and fire a shot that hit the far post and in, putting the Illini now up by 5-0. The helpers on the Pringle goal were given to Andy Betourne and Tim Gilbert. Less than two minutes later and the Illini with a one skater advantage, at the 10:59 point in the period, Jordan Pringle would send a pass across the slot to Jason Nemeth who would fire the puck top shelf to net his second power play goal of the night. The Bronchos' would swap out goaltenders, putting in Kyle Morgan in favor of Sgro, but within minutes of being in net, the Illini would make him feel welcome. At the 16:16 mark, Jordan Pringle would skate in from the blue line, dodging defenders and put the puck into UCO goal, giving the Illini a seven goal lead. The rest of the time would tick off the clock giving the Illini the 7-0 shutout win.

The win takes the #2 ranked Illini to 3-0 on the young season, with the next game being Saturday night at 7:00pm against the same Bronchos' team..