Icers Sweep Rutgers, Improve to 13-1

Story posted December 5, 2011 in CommRadio, Sports by Ryan Smith

The Penn State Icers improved to 13-1 following a 9-0 defeat of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (13-4-3) at the Penn State Ice Pavilion Saturday afternoon.

The Icers raced out of the gates for the second straight night, scoring four first period goals on 26 shots. Meanwhile, Rutgers managed all of 15 shots for the game.

Michael Longo opened the scoring for Penn State on a wrist shot that re-directed and sneaked through the legs of Rutgers goaltender Brandon DiLibero. Just 41 seconds later, on a two-on-one rush, Paul Daley fired a wrist shot through the wickets of DiLibero to up the Penn State lead to two.

The Scarlet Knights could not stay out of the penalty box all afternoon. Rutgers took six minor penalties in the first period alone. Penn State would capitalize for two power play goals. Brandon Russo scored his second of the year on a one-time laser from the top of the right circle that clanged the iron on its way in. With less than two minutes left in the period, Jake Friedman scored from a severe angle for Penn State’s second power play goal of the period.

After a raucous first period, the Icers took a more defensive approach for the rest of the game. Mike McDonagh scored his second goal in as many days, marking the only tally of the second period. The sophomore knocked down a Tim Acker centering pass with his chest before calmly going to his backhand and shoveling the puck over DiLibero.

Chris Cerutti opened the third period scoring on a breakaway roof shot as he raced down the right wing side. Freshman Josh Daley fired home his third goal of the season off a wonderful centering pass from Dominic Morrone from behind the goal line.

Cerutti added his second goal of the period less than a minute after Daley’s goal to make it 8-0 Penn State. Right off a faceoff, Tommy Olczyk fired a shot on goal with Cerutti crashing the net for the rebound and popping it home. Longo added a tally late in the third to complete another sensational offensive performance for the Icers.

Cerutti finished with three goals on the weekend. Cerutti entered the weekend with just one goal as he was continuing to work his way back from a knee injury suffered in the preseason.

“The first couple weeks back were tough to fight through,” said Cerutti. “I took the brace off recently and it’s been feeling a lot better.”

Seven different Penn State players scored goals in the victory, and a total of 15 Icer skaters had a goal over the two-day sweep, in which the Icers outscored Rutgers 22-2. Penn State’s bench boss was particularly thrilled with the way the team played between the blue lines.

“This weekend was by far our best weekend in the neutral zone,” said Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky.

Freshman Tim Carr made his first home start as an Icer and got the shutout, registering 15 saves. Afterwards, Carr was quick to praise his teammates.

“We did a great job not letting them get into the game at all, regardless of what the score was,” Carr said.

Penn State has one more weekend of games before an extended holiday break layoff. They travel to Liberty University next Friday and Saturday, December 9-10, to take on the Flames. Game times for the games are 7:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. respectively.

Ryan Smith is a junior majoring in Broadcast Journalism and is a ComRadio Sports Director. To contact him, email rds5164@psu.edu.