The Penn State Icers (8-0) continued their undefeated season as they beat the NCAA Division III SUNY-Fredonia Blue Devils (3-2-1) by a score of 5-4 on Saturday night at the Greenberg Ice Pavilion.

In what proved to be a hugely productive line all game, the Icers scored within the first five minutes of the first period. Center Tommy Olczyk and forward Taylor Holstrom fed forward Justin Kirchhevel the puck for his first goal of the night.

“We see the ice pretty easy, so when we get moving it’s pretty easy”, Kirchhevel said.

The chemistry of this line led to a power play goal for Kirchhevel in the second period. Defenseman Dan Loucks initiated some action in front of the net with a hard slap shot that was rebounded into the net by a diving Kirchhevel, with assists coming from Holstrom and Loucks.

The line’s solid chemistry helped Kirchhevel get a power play goal in the second period. Holstrom passed to defenseman Dan Loucks, who fired a slap shot at the net. Kirchhevel was there for the rebound, getting his second goal of the night.

The first two periods brought what appeared to be the biggest challenge that Penn State goaltending has faced this year.

“It was a great opportunity,” Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky said of the opportunity to play SUNY-Fredonia.

Icers goalie Matt Madrazo was tested often in the second period. As the second period began Madrazo made several solid saves, until SUNY Fredonia’s Jared Wynia fired one through Madrazo’s five-hole for a goal.

The Blue Devils outplayed the Icers for most of the second period, as goalie Jeff Holloway played impressively. The Icers threatened with two breakaway attempts, one from Holstrom and another from Kirchhevel, but came up empty.

“I think we saw today that we have to get better at doing things quicker,” Gadowsky said.

The Blue Devils maintained a 4-2 advantage until late in the second period. Loucks and Bryce Johnson set up Jake Friedman, who sent a powerful wrist shot right past Holloway, giving the Icers some momentum and just a one goal deficit.

With SUNY-Fredonia still leading 4-3 at the beginning of the third period, the Icers looked to tie it up. They found the opportunity quickly thanks to a Blue Devils penalty, and Steven Edgeworth put one in to even up the score.

Penn State spent the next few minutes looking to get the one goal they needed. The opportunity presented itself soon enough, as Kurt Collins found George Saad for a goal and a 5-3 lead.

It was up to the Icers’ defense and Madrazo to defend this lead, and Madrazo thought they did it well.

“We could have folded after being down 4-2 in the second period,” Madrazo said. “But we came up with some good defensive plays and some good goals at some big times. That’s what turned the game around for us.”
  
The third period included an impressive Madrazo save on a Stephen Castriota breakaway. Collins also had a big defensive play, blocking a shot on SUNY-Fredonia’s last power play.

Despite the 5-4 final score, Gadowsky credited the defense of both teams with playing well.

“If you look at the shots on goal, I thought they were a very good defensive team,” said Gadowsky.

Penn State played again on Sunday at 1 p.m. Check psucomradio.com for details on that game. The Icers play again Friday, November 11th against West Chester at the Greenberg Ice Pavilion.

June Dello Russo is a freshman majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact her, email jld5691@psu.edu.