Following two emotional wins against Penn State last weekend, the Ohio hockey team knows this weekend might be just as big.
With two games against Illinois, ranked No.3 in the latest American Collegiate Hockey Association rankings and second in the Central States Collegiate Hockey League behind only the Bobcats, No. 6 Ohio (15-7-1) has a big challenge in front of them.
Emotionally we just have to keep on an even level
defenseman Joe Branco said. We try not to hit peaks and valleys because we know that we didn't accomplish anything yet.
A sweep of Illinois this weekend would not only give the Bobcats an almost insurmountable point lead in the CSCHL (currently they hold a 40-32 lead over Illinois), but it would give the team their fourth consecutive series against an ACHA team, including wins against three teams with higher rankings than them. This impressive stat could hold a great deal of weight in the next ACHA rankings on Jan. 23.
Some people just look at records in those rankings coach Dan Morris said. But our early season losses are very different than the way were playing against these ACHA teams. The last ACHA game we lost was actually at Penn State (on Oct. 18).
Indeed early season losses to an unknown first-year Lindenwood team (now tied with Illinois for No.3 in the ACHA) and two losses during the break to Saint Clair College have kept the Bobcats on the outside looking in.
While Ohio coasted through this week's practice on the emotion of beating Penn State, which beat the Bobcats in last year's ACHA national championship game, Illinois undoubtedly spent the week preparing for similar revenge against Ohio. After all, Ohio only earned the chance to play in the national championship game by upsetting Illinois in the semifinals.
They remember that goalie Brian Gallagher said. They'll have something to show this weekend. You just can't take a team like that lightly.
Although the team can not look too far ahead, wins against Illinois this weekend would look pretty good with unranked Fredonia State coming to Bird Arena next weekend.
Heading into this weekend, Ohio is on a six-game win streak and is 11-2-1 overall since the Bobcats lost to Penn State in State College, Pa., in October.
Ohio takes on Illinois at 7:30 Friday and Saturday night at Bird Arena.
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Mike Cottrill
