Last weekend, the Purdue Northwest D2 Hockey Team hosted Illinois State University for a two-game series at the Kube Sports Complex. The Pride battled through two physical, high-tempo games, falling 8–4 in game one before bouncing back with a strong 6–4 win in game two.

The Basics

• Records: Purdue Northwest (10–4), Illinois State University (1-2)
• Location: Hammond, Indiana
• Two-Game Series

 
Game One
Inside the Numbers

• Purdue Northwest goaltender John Hughes (Noblesville, Ind./) made 35 saves in 44:54 of action, while Luka Krstulovich (Frankfort, Ill./) stopped 9 shots in relief.
• Offensively, the Pride found the net four times. Collin Kozijn (Leduc, Alberta/), Zach Cestero (Estero, Fla./), Jt Verdino, and Brayden Mitchell (Chesterfield, Mo./) each scored once.
• Assists came from Adam Napravnik (Praha, Czech Republic/), Alex Moon (Wyandotte, Mich./Wyandotte), Nate Cheney (St. Michael, Minn./), and Dave Anderson (Carrolton, Texas), who helped drive PNW's second-period surge.
• Illinois State controlled special teams, recording eight goals total and pressuring PNW with consistent zone time.
• ISU's Noah Vanherik earned the win in goal, stopping 39 of 43 shots.

The Breakdown

• Illinois State struck quickly, opening the scoring early in the first period and carrying a 1–0 advantage into the break. The Redbirds added two more goals in the second before Purdue Northwest responded with a strong push.
• The Pride broke through when Collin Kozijn (Leduc, Alberta/) scored at 11:22 off a setup from Adam Napravnik (Praha, Czech Republic/), giving PNW some life. Moments later, Zach Cestero (Estero, Fla./) buried another at 17:21, assisted by Alex Moon (Wyandotte, Mich./Wyandotte), cutting into the deficit.
• PNW's momentum continued in the third when JT Verdino (Rutherford, N.J./) scored at 6:25, followed 41 seconds later by Brayden Mitchell (Chesterfield, Mo./) at 7:06 off a feed from Dave Anderson (Carrolton, Texas), bringing the game within reach.
• But Illinois State answered with a run of late goals, including an empty-netter, pulling away to take game one 8–4.

 
Game Two
Inside the Numbers

• Goaltender Elias Johansson (Gothenburg, Sweden) earned the victory for Purdue Northwest, turning aside 33 shots in a full 60-minute performance.
• The Pride offense exploded with six goals, coming from Gabriel Santa Maria, Sean Curtin (Chicago, Ill./), Collin Kozijn (Leduc, Alberta/), Alex Moon (Wyandotte, Mich./Wyandotte), RJ Swaw (Orland Park, Ill./), and Brayden Mitchell (Chesterfield, Mo./).
• Assists were spread across the lineup, with contributions from Fynn O'Neill (Calgary, Alberta, Canada/), Nate Cheney (St. Michael, Minn./), Sean Curtin (Chicago, Ill./), and Pellegrino Pescatore (Willowbrook, Ill.).
• Illinois State went 2-for-10 on the power play, while the Pride went 1-for-10.
• ISU goalie Cooper Darovic made 57 saves under heavy pressure.

The Breakdown

• After a scoreless first period, Illinois State broke the ice at 6:38 of the second to take a 1–0 lead. Purdue Northwest responded immediately.
• Gabriel Santa Maria tied the game at 5:43 off assists from Fynn O'Neill (Calgary, Alberta, Canada/) and Nate Cheney (St. Michael, Minn./), sparking the Pride's best offensive stretch of the series. On the power play at 11:07, Sean Curtin (Chicago, Ill./) buried a go-ahead goal, assisted by Dave Anderson (Carrolton, Texas) and Santa Maria.
• PNW kept rolling when Collin Kozijn (Leduc, Alberta/) struck at 14:40, finishing a setup from Jacob Behnke (South Elgin, Ill./) and Devin Wiegel (Orland Park, Ill.) to make it 3–1 heading into the third.
• ISU would score again pushing the score to 3-2, but Alex Moon (Wyandotte, Mich./Wyandotte) extended the lead to 4–2 at 11:05.
• Illinois State refused to back off as they would find the back of the net again at 12:59 on a powerplay goal to make it 4-3.
• RJ Swaw (Orland Park, Ill./) at would score at 14:56 for the Pride, then Zach Dawson for Illinois would score at 16:07, and finally Brayden Mitchell (Chesterfield, Mo./) would score for the Pride at 18:55 to push the score to 6–4 to ice the game and secure the win for the Pride.

Up Next
The Purdue Northwest D2 Hockey Team returns to action this Friday, November 21, as they take on the Lewis University Flyers.