Pounce Online - <h2>How sweet it is</h2>

astern Illinois hockey player Matt Lang congratulates assistant captain Derek Hay after one of two goals he scored in the second period against Purdue. Eastern Illinois beat Purdue and former coach Cameron Estes Saturday 7-4. (Kevin Kenealy/Pounce Online)

How sweet it is

By: Kevin Kenealy/Pounce Editor

Posted: 11/2/07

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Eastern Illinois embarrassed Purdue through the first two periods at Danville's David S. Palmer Ice Arena Saturday afternoon.

After a loss Friday night in the shootout, EIU looked to split the series against former head coach Cameron Estes.

Eastern's 14-man roster, under last year players Ryan Hastings and Richie Nelson led the first period 2-0 by the end of one on goals by new players Wayne Kuhl and Brad Keane.

By one point in the second, Eastern led by as much as 6-0 and it looked as though the team's fast offense combined with their stiff defense wouldn't let up.

"The first two periods we came out flying like I've never seen us play before," said Nelson.

Derek Hay had a big game with two goals back-to-back in the second and two assists, including the one to Joe Kopka for the 6-0 deficit.

"Yea, it was a good feeling," said Hay. "I think I was just in the right place at the right time. I got the shot and picked up the rebound."

Perhaps the end of the second was a tell-tale sign; however, the third would not go as smoothly as Purdue scored their first past Eastern goalie Brian Blake.

While Eastern fans may have cheered "Look at the scoreboard!" with another goal by Purdue in the third, penalty trouble for Eastern began to slow their game down.

In the third period, Eastern had nine penalties. In the first two, it had seven. Of those nine included a game misconduct and a hitting from behind from Dan Moore and a hooking and interference call on Matt Lang who helped the team earlier with a couple assists.

The penalties allowed Purdue to edge their way to almost a real game, making it 6-4 with 7:36 left to play.

But Eastern wasn't going to go out too easy as rookie right wing Neil Fifer came up with the big 7-4 goal off the assist from Connor Maley and Matt Gross.

That would be all Eastern would need to secure the victory against a coach not a lot of players on the team feel too much respect for anymore.

"It was huge; basically to get back at the old coach for leaving us and he was all smug when they won yesterday," said Eastern captain Brian Blake.

Former coach Cameron Estes left Eastern's hockey team in February of last season with the team at 10-13 with temporary coach Danny Gillespie taking over the last few games.

According to now Eastern assistant coach Richie Nelson, the new coaching position has been busy.

"It's been hard because a lot of the kids on the team treat us like players and we kind of need a leadership role on the team," he said.

According to Hay, however, having Hastings and Nelson around make the practices less laid back and more intense.

Despite leaving for what he said is between the team and him, Estes did have some good things to say about his old crew.

"Always an intense team, never doubt that," Estes said. "Whether they're the underdog or they're the favorite, they always come ready to go. That's never been a question. Good luck to Eastern. Enjoyed my time with them the last couple of years and hope they win the tournament."