Champaign, IL - Four more points. That's what the Illini picked up as they bumped off 17th ranked Western Michigan University with a score of 5-3. The Illini special teams was definitely the deciding factor in the heated outing with the Stallions. Things came to a boil at the end of the third and resulted in 3 misconduct penalties and 3 game disqualifications.

The Illini took control of the game early, and if paid off with an early goal. Freshman Daniel Cohen scored his first career goal as an Illini as he redirected a shot from Dave Schmitt past the Stallion's goaltender LaPak. Junior Tom Connell was given the second assist on the goal just 4:11 into the first period. An Illini penalty shortly after the score gave the Stallions a chance to tie things up, and just a minute and nine seconds after the Illini goal, Western Michigan's Sean McWhorter did just that as he fired a shot that zipped just over the Illini's Mike Burda's glove and into the net. It would be a power play that would allow the Illini to pull ahead once again later in the period as senior Alex Park would rip one into the net from just inside the blue line at the 16:42 mark. Helping set up the power play goal were Daniel Cohen and team captain Drew Heredia. The Illini put a big crimp into the Stallions offense, allowing them only 3 shots on goal for the period.

The only goal in the second period would once again come off of an Illini power play, as senior Nick Fabbrini would pick up the puck in the slot, after WMU's goalie deflected a shot from Alex Park, and send it into the Stallion's net, giving the Illini the 3-1 lead. Western Michigan was able to put twice as many shots on goal as they did in the first with 6, giving them a two period of 9, compared to the Illini's two period total of 40.

Just as if looked like the Illini had control of the game, the Stallions charged back at the start of the third period, putting in two goals and tying the game at 3, with just under three minutes off of the clock. Alex Park would give the Illini the lead once again with another power play shot that would find the back of the WMU net at the 5:56 point in the period. Assisting on the go-ahead goal were Daniel Cohen and junior Jordan Pringle. Jordan Pringle would add an insurance goal at the 14:34 mark with a one timer from inside the circle, with great puck movement from Johnny Liang and Jason Nemeth setting up the power play goal. The Illini were able hold on to the two goal lead for the rest of the period and extra curricular activities and grab the win 5-3.

The 14-0-0 Illini will once again face Western Michigan University in the second game of the series on Saturday night.