Lake Forest, IL - Preparing to play the #1 team in the MCLA is exciting, and the Illini were pumped up from the beginning.  Billed as the Comcast Game of the Week, the game was broadcast on Comcast CN100 from a sunny afternoon at Lake Forest High School.  The #19 Illini entered the game with a record of 8-1, looking to make some noise with an upset of undefeated Michigan.

The Illini jumped out quickly, with Bob Ridlen netting a goal to put the Illini ahead 1-0.  From there, the Illini traded goals with the Wolverines, to put the Illini behind 3-2 midway through the first quarter, and down 7-3 at halftime.
A slashing goal by Scott Pfiffner, Stephen Black, and Nate Prescott provided the rest of the goals for the Illini on the afternoon. From there however, the Illini never seemed to get it together.

Great defense by the Illini held the Wolverines to only one goal in the 3rd quarter, but the Michigan defense stifled the Illini offense all day, holding them scoreless in the 3rd period.  Unfortunately for the Illini, defensemen Mike Howlett and Sean Forrest went down with knee injuries, leaving the Illini spread thin on defense for the rest of the game.  Goalie Eric Rakoczy kept the Illini in the game, recording 22 saves for the Illini on the day, including spectacular saves in one-on-one situations.

The Wolverines went on to post 4 goals in the 4th quarter en route to winning the contest 12-5.

The Illini look to get healthy this week and prepare for conference rival Lindenwood University at Lindenwood on Friday.

Game Notes: Scott Pfiffner led the Illini with 2 goals… Joe O’Malley once again led the Illini with 2 assists… Bob Ridlen led the Illini with 8 ground balls