Illini face off against Ohio University

December 02, 2004 - When it comes to playing the Bobcats of Ohio University the Illini know that they need to be on top of their game. 3-3, 2-3, 2-3, those are the scores from last years match-ups against Ohio, a tie and a loss in regular season play and a loss in the CSCHL championship game. The Illini would love turn those results around and end the first half of season with two wins before semester break.
The Bobcats are currently ranked third in the ACHA, two spots up from Illinois, and have a season record of 12-3-4. The Ohio skaters started off the season in the number one slot and held it briefly, but two ties with Kent State and two losses to Penn State caused them to slip. The Bobcats have struggled in their last five games, pulling out two wins, one loss, and two ties, but even so the team has allowed on average just over two goals per game. Stats-wise the Green and White goaltenders are pretty even around the 90% save averages, but Ryan Baksh is the one spending most ot the time between the pipes and turning away most shots. On the offensive side of the ice, the Bobcats have been averaging over four and a half goals per game, and are currently being led in the scoring department by two Freshman, Dave Fitzgerald and Jim Fuhs who account for almost twenty-five percent of the teams points. Definitely two skaters the Illini will want to keep their eyes on.
Each of these games will have four CSCHL points up for grabs, grabbing all eight would bring the Illini closer to the current points leader, these very same Bobcats. Both games will be at the University of Illinois Ice Arena in Champaign and will start at 7:00pm, so come early if you want good seats, and cheer on the Illini for the last two games of the year.