Icers close door on rivalry with win
Every story needs a villain. Every script needs an antagonist.
For the Bobcats, both those roles have been filled by Penn State for the better part of two decades.
In the final act from Athens, it was Ohio’s villain who got the last laugh.
The Icers came pack from an early one-goal deficit for the second straight night to top the Bobcats 4-1. The win caps the Icers’ season sweep of Ohio in their four regular season meetings.
After spotty defensive play on Friday, Ohio (21-11-1) was looking to tighten up the protection in front of netminder Fedor Dushkin. Although effective, in spurts, Penn State (21-3-1) managed six breakaway opportunities.
The Bobcats opened the scoring once again early in the first. Duncan Green’ blueline snipe was batted out of the air by Jonathan Pietremla into the Icer goal just over two minutes in. It appeared as though Mathew Madrazo, who got the start between the pipes, could be in for a slugfest.
It wouldn’t take nearly as long for Penn State to respond this night as George Saad knotted it just under six minutes later. It wouldn’t be the last in the first frame as Peter Sweetland followed suit with a power play strike right before intermission.
With the Friday-night final already up on the scoreboard, Ohio was hoping they’d have the same second-period potency that they’ve displayed many times this year. The most potent aspect of the middle frame was the penalty calls. The teams combined for twelve including a check from behind on Green that earned him an early trip to the showers.
Saad added to the Icers’ lead off the dish from Eric Steinour with 6:24 remaining in the second. Ohio continued to get opportunities on net. However, the often-frustrating acrobatics of Madrazo stifled chance after chance.
Entering the final frame in a two-score hole, the Bobcats continued to crash the PSU zone. Miscommunication never allowed Ohio to establish the fluidity it wanted on offense as Madrazo continued to dazzle. Point-leader Justin Kirchhevel delivered the dagger with just under six minutes remaining, giving the Icers an insurmountable 4-1 lead.
Madrazo gloved down 24 of 25 shots he faced to improve his record to 9-2-0. Dushkin falls to 10-10-1 in his sophomore campaign .
The game marked Penn State’s final trip to Bird Arena, where the program won the 2003 ACHA National Championship against the Bobcats. It also ends the all-time series between the two as club teams. The last time they could square off is in the ACHA National Tournament in Strongsville, Ohio in March.
The Bobcats have now dropped five straight contests & are 0-9-0 against teams ranked above them. They also lose for only the second time at home this season. Penn State picks up his second straight win.
Ohio will be right back at Bird Arena next week for a two-game stand against a group dubbed the “American Cancer Society Ice Ghosts”. The squad will be made up of recent Ohio Hockey alumni.
Stay locked to ohiobobcatshockey.com to keep updated on all the news and notes leading up to the return of many familiar faces to Athens next weekend.
