Two third period goals, including Pat Saliba’s career-first, allowed the Illinois hockey team to storm back and defeat No. 6 Lindenwood 4-3 on Saturday, completing a Homecoming weekend sweep of the Lions.

Power play goals proved crucial yet again, as each team netted two goals after penalties to begin the game. The visitors would seize the momentum in the second period, however, as the Lions broke the trend and scored a shorthanded goal to take a 3-2 lead entering the second intermission.

The Illini would recapture the game in the final period, however, as Saliba and second-year defenseman Brad Hoelzer found the net, making the score 4-3 with about 15 minutes remaining in the game. Goaltender Mike Burda, making his second straight start, would not be broken for the remainder of the game and preserved the Illini advantage to the final buzzer.

No. 1 Illinois is now 9-0-0 on the season and 2-0-0 in conference play. The Illini will head to Eastern Michigan next weekend to continue Central States Collegiate Hockey League play on the road.