Illinois (4-2-0-2, 6pts.) and Waldorf (7-5-2-0, 10pts.) traded wins in a two-game set over Illinois’ Homecoming Weekend. Illinois suffered a 3-2 overtime loss Friday but rallied to end Game 2 with a 6-2 final score. 

Senior forward Arthur Pawlik explained his biggest takeaway from the Waldorf games was that the team can compete at the highest level. 

“We know we have a strong group, and that when we play the right way, we can go a long way and play against the big names in ACHA D1,” Pawlik wrote in a text message. 

Friday frustrations

The Illini entered Game 1 with high energy and intensity after ending last weekend with an 8-1 win against Michigan State (6-3-3-0, 6pts.). The Warriors met their energy and forced the Illini to increase their physicality. The first period was fast-paced and intense as soon as the first puck hit the ice, but both teams remained scoreless. 

Early in the second, senior forward David Etingen sent a bouncing puck sneakily in the backdoor. Soon after, sophomore forward Tomasz Lulinski got on the scoresheet, while also generating ample scoring chances for his teammates. A spectator mentioned to another that “he was all over the place.” 

Waldorf struggled to set up scoring opportunities, failing to connect its passes without being interrupted by an Illinois turnover. But after their offensive difficulties in the second, the Warriors were off to a screaming start in the third, controlling the ice and besting the Illini with their physicality. Freshman forward Brandon Piwko sank one goal early in the third period, getting Waldorf its first goal of the night. 

With a 2-1 score favoring Illinois and time dwindling on the scoreboard, Waldorf was putting its all into the last few minutes of regulation. It was Piwko again who tied the game with less than a minute and a half left to play — sending Illinois into another Friday overtime match. 

In overtime, the Illini controlled the puck for a majority of the five minutes. However, the Warriors stole the puck, and with one quality chance, senior forward Brady Wicklund backhanded a shot over junior goaltender Grady Sulkin’s glove. Night 1 ended with a final score of 3-2, favoring Waldorf. 

This is the second overtime loss in a Game 1 for the Illini this season, after they fell short to the Spartans the previous weekend. 

“After the first game, we all knew that this was not our typical hockey and that we were much better as a team,” Pawlik wrote. 

Illinois responds with Saturday surge

After another overtime loss, the Illini brought their intensity to the arena Saturday. Illinois controlled the ice, not shying away from increasing the physicality and aggressiveness of the competition. 

“We were hard on the forecheck, fast on transition and relentless the entire game on Saturday,” wrote junior forward Carson Mitchell.  

Game 2 opened with a goal from junior forward Riley Babich on the power play but was quickly answered by a Waldorf goal from sophomore forward Arturas Laurynavichus. Pawlik was the only scorer in the second period, but Illinois’ defense worked hard to keep any pucks from nearing the crease.

Waldorf managed just 1 goal in the third before a cascade of Illinois goals bombarded its opponents. Spaced less than three minutes apart, Illinois racked up 4 consecutive goals. Pawlik, senior defenseman Emmitt Joy, Lulinski and Mitchell all found the back of the net in quick succession, nearly burning out the Illinois goal horn. 

The scoring blitz reflected a completely different Illinois team than the one on the ice less than 24 hours ago. Pawlik noted a shift in the team’s mindset and execution. 

“The real difference between the first and second game came down to small details in our game, our positioning and our mentality,” Pawlik wrote. “In Game 2, we came ready and played better hockey for the full 60 minutes.”

Freshman shines in Illinois debut

Freshman goaltender Socrates Kapotas made his Illinois debut, playing the full 60 minutes Saturday. Kapotas spent last season competing for Team Illinois, where he had a .898 save percentage in 33 games.

Kapotas shared that his first game in net for Illinois was not only a special moment but confirmation that the team was a right fit for him. 

“It was exciting to finally get on the ice and be in the crease, but more importantly, it gave me confidence that I belong here doing what I love with this team,” Kapotas wrote. 

A 6-2 win in a debut game is notable. Kapotas credits the score to his defensemen and their communication — something he values and attributes to his performance. 

“You’ll often hear me talking to my defensemen on the ice about staying in position and giving me better sightlines to the puck,” Kapotas wrote. “Our communication made my job a lot easier and allowed me to track the puck through screens.” 

Game 2 was a physical and fast-paced match, and Kapotas met the challenge with several big saves, turning away 19 of the 21 shots he faced. His performance in net gives Illinois a young, dependable presence on the ice and is a sign of how he will contribute this season. Kapotas viewed the game as a foundation for him to build on throughout the year and emphasized continuing to improve.  

“This first game was a good starting point, and I’m excited to keep building on that and contribute however I can to help the team reach our goals,” Kapotas wrote.

Details make the difference

Illinois’ early season struggles defensively have highlighted a need for greater consistency. Pawlik stressed the importance of bringing the same focus and attention to detail into both games – not just Game 2. 

“I think we still need to be better when it comes to the small details,” Pawlik wrote. “This is the biggest difference between good and great teams. Most importantly, we need to start playing our game on Friday night and not wait until game two to wake up every weekend.”

While this weekend accentuated areas of improvement, Illinois also saw progress against Waldorf. The team’s increased organization and confidence are positives that the Illini intends to build on throughout the season. 

“I thought that our structure in our defensive zone and neutral zone was much better this weekend,” Mitchell wrote. “I think the guys are getting more comfortable with our systems as the year goes along.”

Though the Illini still have small details to clean up, this weekend’s improved structure is a step towards the consistent game results they want to bring to a complete weekend.

“I think we played with a lot more confidence against Waldorf and played better as a unit,” Etingen wrote. “We saw improvements in little things that we do as a team which we expect. In general, we were a lot less rusty against Waldorf.”

Even if its first game against Waldorf left room for improvement, Illinois now looks to carry its progress into its upcoming matches — and show its confidence right away in Game 1.  

For Illinois, the focus now turns to the work ahead and expectations for the season that the team has yet to meet. 

“There is a lot of work left to do in practice, and we still have a lot to prove to our fans and the rest of the league,” Pawlik wrote. 

Illinois plays against Iowa State (5-2-2-0, 5pts.) in a two-game series at home, before it heads across the Midwest for three weekends of away games. Game 1 starts at 7 p.m. Friday, and Game 2 starts at 5 p.m. Saturday. 

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