Rochester, NY - Day two of the ACHA Nationals is now complete and 12 of the 16 teams are headed home. There was only one upset on the day, and that was biggest ones, as Liberty University toppled Penn State 4-1, halting the Icer's 10 year Championship game streak. With today's win 6-2 over Rhode Island, the #1 Illini will square off against those same Liberty Flames.

The Illini took to the ice once again in the late game, but came out looking better than the night before. The Illini gave the Rams a power play chance early in the period, but they were unable to turn that man advantage into any points. Midway through the period it was the Illini's chance on the power play, and the Illini were able to convert. At the 10:37 mark in the first, the seniors would strike as Johnny Liang from behind the goal line would send the puck to the front of the net where Nick Fabbrini would fire the puck past URI's Andrew Lisi, Joey Resch also helping set up the power play goal. With the Illini on the board first, and time running out in the period, it looked like the Illini might have control of the game, but with just 63 seconds left in the period, the Ram's Bobby Gauthier slipped past the Illini and went one on one with Mike Burda, sending a shot top shelf to tie the game at 1-1.

The Illini would kick off the scoring once again in the second period as Johnny Liang would pick up the puck in front of the Rhode Island net and rifle a shot past the Ram's netminder with 3:20 off the clock, Drew Heredia and Pat Mannina assisting on the goal. URI would be given a 5 on 3 power play chance and with a pass sent to the back door, the Rams Devin Sheehan would knot the game at 2. Just completing killing off the other penalty, the Illini would once again take the lead just less than two minutes later as Joey Resch would take control of the puck behind the Rhode Island, scramble to the front and flip a shot into the Ram's net at the 14:47 mark. With just over 2 minutes left in the period, Drew Heredia would grab the puck and sent it to junior Jason Nemeth who would streak into the URI zone, circle around the back of the Rams net and fire a shot past Lisi. With just seconds left in the period, the Rams would win the face off in their zone and try to run out the clock, holding the puck against the boards behind their net. but the Illini would dig it out and with just .2 seconds left before the buzzer, sophomore Brad Hoelzer would give the Illini a 5-2 lead. Assisting in the last second scramble were Johnny Liang and Drew Heredia.

The third period would be back and forth, and for the first time have the Flames out shooting the Illini 15 to 13, but it would be the Illini who would score the only goal of the period. With a Ram in the box for tripping the Illini would set up in the URI zone, and junior Jordan Pringle would send a pass from behind the goal line across the slot to freshman Daniel Cohen who would rip a shot behind the Ram's netminder. Also picking up on assist on the Illini's 6th goal was Jason Nemeth. Overall shots on goal was fairly equal, 37 for the Illini and 35 for the Rams, with Mike Burda coming out better, turning away all but two, for the .943 save percentage.

The win streak continues to grow, now at 36-0-0, with the next step to perfection Tuesday night at 5:30pm as the Illini take on the Flames in the semi-finals.