Halfway through the third period of Saturday’s game against Minot State, Illinois found themselves down 4-1.
Senior forward Alexander Matveev scored on the power play at the 10:33 mark to bring the Illini within two. Then, sophomore forward Anthony Varrassi lit the lamp less than a minute later.
The Illini couldn’t complete the comeback, as they dropped the game to the Beavers 4-3. They also lost Friday night’s contest, 1-0.
Senior goalie Nolan Woodring was again the story on Friday. He stopped 37 of the 38 shots that he faced. The one he gave up, scored by junior forward Christian Kadolph mid-way through the third, proved to be the difference. Minot State senior goalie Jake Anthony shut out Illinois and stopped all 17 shots he faced that night.
Woodring again took to the net on Saturday for his sixth consecutive start. The team hit the ground sprinting. Sophomore forward David Etingen scored less than three minutes into the game.
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However, the Beavers tied the game later in the period. Then, they scored twice in the second period and once in the third. The opponents took a 4-1 lead and held onto the win even as the Illini brought the game within one.
Freshman goalie William Dyke made his college hockey debut in the net for the Beavers and saved 26 of the 29 shots that he saw. For the second straight night, Woodring endured 38 shots but stopped just 34 this time.
The third period of game two was the only period of the series in which the Illini outshot the Beavers. The Illini recorded 12 shots against the Beavers 8 in the period but were outshot 68 to 34 the rest of the weekend.
After dropping both games, the Illini (3-3-0, 6 pts.) now find themselves in fourth place in the Midwest College Hockey division. Midland University (3-3-1, 7 pts.), the University of Jamestown (4-2-0, 8 pts.) and the undefeated University of Mary (4-0-0, 8 pts.) all lead the charge.
The Illini are third-best in the division in both goals for (18) and against (14). Their +4 goal differential is fourth-best within the division.
Matveev and Varrassi, who both scored in the third period of Saturday’s contest, are now tied with junior forward Gregory Etingen for the team lead in goals (3). Matveev also tied with freshman forward Carson Mitchell for the team lead in points (5).
Illinois will have their first home series of the year this coming weekend against Roosevelt. Friday’s game will be at the Ice Arena, but the Illini will hit the road Saturday and travel to The Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville.
