Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Playing in their third game in three days, Davenport wasn't able to overcome an early deficit and penalties in a 5-1 loss to Illinois. Bo Jacobs recorded the only goal for Davenport as the Panthers fall to 4-1 on the season. Davenport will be in action again next weekend when they travel to Robert Morris for a pair of games.

Davenport came out slow to start the game and surrendered their first goal in almost 170 minutes of game time when Illinois scored less than two minutes into the period. The rest of the period was marred by penalties as the Panthers had to kill off 11 minutes of penalties including a five minute major near the end of the period.

Illinois increased their lead early in the second period with a goal just before the Panthers were back to full strength. With 13 minutes remaining in the period, the Panthers were finally able to get on the board when Bo Jacobs shot a rocket from the blue line that found the back of the net to cut the Davenport deficit in half.

But penalties continued to hurt the Panthers as the Illini scored another goal just before a Davenport penalty expired and then tacked on a 5-on-3 power play goal near the end of the period to take a 4-1 lead.

With Davenport continuing to trail 4-1 and on the power play, Coach Sweeney pulled Phil Graveline to give the Panthers a 6-on-4 advantage to try to get their offense going. But Davenport wasn't able to convert and with 7:36 remaining in the game Illinois knocked in an empty net goal to take a 5-1 lead.

Phil Graveline surrendered four goals in his first loss of the season.

Davenport falls to 4-1 on the season. The Panthers will travel to Chicago, Ill. next weekend to take on Robert Morris in two games.

Post-Game Quotes – Head Coach Phil Sweeney

Thoughts on game – “I was pretty upset with how we played today mentally.  We did't think on the ice.  We had one or two guys ready to play, the rest of the guys went through the motions.  It was easier for our guys to blame the refs than look in the mirror with who had a bad game.  Illinois, to their credit, took advantage and handed us our first loss of the season.”

What improvements need to be made before the Robert Morris games next weekend – “We need to be more discipline all around.  Penalties are the easy things to point to, but our systems were not run properly and our guys took way to long on shifts.  Today was an off day, we will learn from this and move on.  I expect this week of practice to be our best, as guys will be battling for spots all week “

Post-Game Notes

Davenport is 0-2 all-time against Illinois…After not allowing a goal in the first two games of the showcase, the Panthers allowed a season high five goals to Illinois on Sunday.

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