Posted: 12/10/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Wesley Fane Drew Heredia jumps over the Illinois State goalie at the Ice Arena on Friday.

After receiving a pair of blowout losses, Illinois State might not be coming back to Champaign for another 22 years.

Two consecutive 11-1 routs this weekend allowed the top-ranked Illinois hockey club to sweep the Redbirds and put the finishing touches on an undefeated first semester.

Twelve Illini scored in the series, including Drew Heredia, who recorded a hat trick on Friday and added another goal in the finale.

The weekend's 22 goals were a season high for the Illini, who improved to 17-0-0 on the season. Illinois has not lost a regular-season game since a team of CSCHL All-Stars won at the Ice Arena last season.

"We're the No. 1 team in the nation," Heredia said. "We shouldn't be losing to anyone, especially when we're playing so many home games."

The Illinois power play consistently created goal-scoring opportunities against the Division II Redbirds, who appeared overmatched on the Big Pond's wider ice surface. The Illini converted on 6-of-7 power plays Friday and scored on 64 percent of their chances for the weekend.

"We moved our feet and skated well," said forward Tim Gilbert, who collected his first three goals of the year in the series. "It really allowed us to open it up."

For the series, Illinois outshot the Redbirds 113-32.

"They saw a lot of shots all weekend, and we just kept the pressure on them," head coach Chad Cassel said.

The constant onslaught of goals allowed the Illini to rest their top lines, as Cassel noted that every player available on the roster received some playing time this weekend.

Freshman goaltender Nick Pecoraro made his first career start Saturday, turning aside 23 shots and earning a victory. He also recorded a rare assist, making a long pass to set up a Johnny Liang goal.

"He was definitely excited," Heredia said. "The refs didn't get him at first. They were like, 'who touched that?'"

"We told them, 'Pecoraro set that up.'"

Illinois now enters a monthlong break in the schedule as the ACHA's only undefeated team. The Illini will resume practice on Dec. 30 and return to action against Michigan-Dearborn on Jan. 4.

"It's going to be a long break, but I'm sure well get some guys together back home and get some skates going during the week," Gilbert said. "We're going to come back a couple of weeks early and make sure we're focused."

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