EIU Hockey1EIU Loses Both to RedbirdsISU

Friday February 3, EIU-4 ISU-9

Friday February 3 marked the showdown between EIU and ISU at the Palmer Arena in Danville, IL. Both teams came into the game ready and ISU showed just that scoring the first goal of the game. 40 seconds EIU answered with one of their own as rookie forward Jake Armijo rung one bar down on ISU's starting goalie Ryan Suizdak. EIU then answered with 3 more goals from Sorrentino to end the first period EIU-4 ISU-1. The second and third period had much of a different style of play to it. EIU went from being a fast, physical, and puck moving team to sluggish and with a lack of presence. Captain Brad Bartosz, still out with a concussion, stated "We looked like a whole different set of guys out there. I don't know whether the guys thought they had the game in the bag or something, but we just flat out gave up." The final score ended ISU-8 EIU-4. Coach Runnion: It was tough to eat that loss. We have a very skilled team and when we play at our top-level, as in the first period, its easy to see that we can compete against anyone. We just have to take this loss into consideration and move on to tomorrow.

Team Goals Assists Shots Penalty Minutes PPG SHG PP % Goalie Save %
EIU 4 7 32 14 1 0 25% 75.75%
ISU 8 18 33 10 1 0 20% 87.5%


Satuday February 4, EIU-7 ISU-10

Saturday's game marked a new day for EIU Hockey and meant a new opportunity against the Redbirds. The game started off at 2:00 P.M. when ISU scored 1:20 into the game. EIU answered back when veteran Connor Maly roofed one on the Redbird goalie. ISU answered back with two more notches against EIU. Then, with 1:26 left in the first period rookie defenseman Henry Capouch put a powerplay wrist shot past Czarnik. The first ended ISU-3 EIU-2. EIU's goal today was to play 3 full periods. Their first period was a little shaky but they were determined to change that going into the second. Yurchak started off the second period with a goal. A very determined ISU answered back with three of their own goals. Mike Sorrentino then put two more goals, bringing his total to 5 goals in the weeked. Mike's second goal in the second was a hardworking shorthanded breakaway goal, in which he burned past the Redbird defensemen and finished five-hole with only 0:19 left in the period. EIU started the third off with a goal from Henry Capouch. ISU then answered with three more goals. Guttasch brought a little life back to EIU scoring another goal in the third. Jake Armijo laid a huge hit on an ISU forward leaving him with, what was later to be found, a lacerated kidney. The final score of the game was ISU-10 EIU-7. Coach Runnion: Its tough to lose games like this. We didn't give up, but we still didn't look like we were playing to our full potential. You shouldn't be losing games when you score 7 goals, our goaltending and defense needed to be stepped up a notch. I just hope 'Mij' (Jake Armijo) is alright. Having key players like him and 'Toszer' (Brad Bartosz) out for big teams like DePaul next weekend is going to be tough.

Team Goals Assists Shots Penalty Minutes PPG SHG PP % Goalie Save %
EIU 7 11 44 16 1 1 25% 80%
ISU 10 15 50 10 1 0 20% 84%