Ohio Takes One of Two from PSU
By William Strome, Staff Writer
January 8, 2008 | 4:33 p.m.
The Bobcats' trip to the No. 2 Penn State University Icers ended in familiar fashion.
For the third consecutive weekend and fourth of the season, the 'Cats (3-1, 6-4) split a two game series. Ohio won 4-3 Friday in an overtime shootout, but was blanked Saturday, 3-0.
The last team to shut out Ohio -- the Icers last season on Oct. 27 in State College, 1-0.
"The worst part about it was we were content with only taking one out of two games," said coach Dan Morris. "We lacked that killer instinct and that's so frustrating to see as a coach."
On Friday, after a scoreless first period, Penn State (4-0, 5-3) took the lead just over eight minutes into the second period. Ohio rallied however, and scored three unanswered goals to finish off the period with a 3-1 lead. Dave Fitzgerald set up Clay LaBrosse for the first score with 10:30 left. Gerry Raymond netted the second goal and a little over a minute later, Brett Molnar gave the 'Cats a two-goal lead.
It took Penn State six minutes to cut Ohio's lead in half but with less than four minutes to play, Ohio found that two goal lead to be long gone when Lukas DeLorenzo knotted up the game at three a piece. Both Icer goals were on the power play.
The game came down to a shootout following overtime where Paul Marshall's save lifted the Bobcats to victory, 3-2 in the shootout.
"We played some of our best hockey over those first two periods," Morris said. "I'll give it to Penn State, they played a great third. But to be tied at three on the road, we like our chances to steal a game in a shootout."
Saturday was the polar opposite from what the 'Cats were hoping for. One would think the momentum would carry over from the night before but that was far from the case.
"We were flat," Morris said. "Given it's still early in the year and with 10 games in, we're doing well so far."
Arguably the most physical game of the season thus far left both teams with numerous man-up advantages, namely the Icers. After committing only nine penalties the night before, Ohio sat in the box 14 times on Saturday.
Early in the first, Penn State scored an unlikely short-handed goal to propel them into the lead. From there, they didn't look back. The Icers tacked on another goal halfway through the second and another with merely a minute and a half left in regulation.
"One out of two on the road isn't a bad thing, but there is still room for improvement," Morris said.
Games Notes
Ohio's next game is at conference opponent No. 16 Michigan-Dearborn this weekend.
Penn State dropped from No. 1 to No. 2 after being swept by Illinois on the road.
Ohio moved up from No. 5 to No. 4 with a 2-2 record against top-10 teams.
Jeff Jepson, who leads the team in scoring with 9 points, injured himself during practice and will not play this weekend at Michigan-Deaborn.
Penn State out-shot Ohio on Friday, 47-23, and on Saturday, 30-19.
Paul Marshall started in goal both games due to Chris Carlson's wrist injury last weekend against Oakland.
In the last six games, Ohio has only beaten PSU twice.
Ohio will host PSU on January 11 and 12.
Penn State converted on power plays four times. Ohio had zero power play goals.
Paul Marshall is expected to start both games this upcoming weekend.