The top-ranked Illini hockey team answered the bell in the first game against No. 2 ranked Lindenwood on Friday, winning by a score of 4-0.

Jason Nemeth of the Illini, coming off a stellar series in which he moved into a tie for 10th place on the Illini all-time points list, started the scoring with a goal in the second minute of the game.

The Illini kept up the scoring with three tallies in the second period – two goals from Matt Jennings and a third from Johnny Liang.

Without anymore scoring in the third period, the work of Illini goalie Mike Burda was on display. Burda stopped all 39 shots he saw on the night.

The Illini play the second game of the series on Saturday night at 4:00 p.m.