Perhaps the sellout crowd of 1,200 plus that attended Saturday night's hockey game at Bird Arena could have just watched the film from Friday night.
Ohio (15-7-1) beat rival Penn State 4-2 on back-to-back nights for the first time since the 2001-2002 season to end a seven-game winless streak against the Icers.
Penn State (20-2), ranked No. 1 in the American Collegiate Hockey Association and previously undefeated, found itself outdone by an Ohio team that figured out a way to win both nights.
I think we were pretty well prepared for anything Penn State could throw at us
forward Matt Shenk said. We know what type of team they are and everyone was ready to do what we had to do.
Shenk, who tacked on the final goal in Saturday night's game during a weekend where he scored three goals and added an assist, was a big part of a team defense that seemed to find a way to kill penalties.
On Friday night, in a 4-on-3 situation, Penn State had a breakaway on goaltender Brian Gallagher. Clinging to a 3-2 lead, Gallagher knocked down a high slap shot and sent the ensuing rebound shot across the center line to kill a huge penalty.
(Gallagher's) play was huge all weekend Ohio coach Dan Morris said. He was far and away our best player on the ice. He's been able to tell his teammates all season 'Don't worry
I got your back
' and they believe in him.
For Gallagher and the other Ohio veterans who remember the loss they suffered to the Icers in last year's ACHA national title game, the victory was extremely emotional. Two losses to Penn State at State College earlier this season only added to the fire.
It's the fruition of all the work we did
Gallagher said. For guys like myself and (defenseman Nick) Bilanow
who spent the summer down here working for this game
it felt great to say that it has all paid off.
Gallagher had 58 saves on the weekend, but he was helped out by an offense that was able to find ways to get ahead.
On Friday, the team had an offensive blast early, going up
3-0 early in the second period, following Brandon Hanley's goal. They followed with a lull that allowed Penn State to bring it back to 3-2 in the final seconds of the period, but by the time Zac Hernandez tacked on the final goal of the night, the team had found a way to win despite being outshot 28-21.
For Hernandez, who was ejected at State College this year, the finishing goal on Friday was a chance for redemption.
When (Frank) Kubas hit me with the pass I was just thinking shoot it as fast as possible
Hernandez said. When I couldn't play in the last game I knew it was my own fault
and I was just waiting for a chance. It felt good to put the game away.
Saturday night the difference was that Ohio was able to kill key penalties while outworking the Penn State defense.
With the score at 2-1 in the third, Tony Arkeilpane tried to screen Penn State goalie Chris Mateo. Mateo attempted to fight through the screen and lost his stick. When Shenk took a quick pass from Nick Bassarab he shot over a pile of grounded Icer defenders to beat the confused goalie.
Following the post-game emotion of the weekend Morris said the team had to immediately regain its focus, as Illinois comes to Bird Arena next weekend. Illinois is currently ranked No. 3 in the ACHA.
Right after the game we could congratulate each other
Morris said. But you have to go back to work on Monday knowing that you have to stay up for another huge weekend.
Ohio next plays Illinois at 7:30 on Friday and Saturday at Bird Arena.
