Amazing the difference 200 miles can make.

After the ice hockey club manhandled Villanova, 9-3, on Friday night at the Ice Pavilion, the Wildcats returned the favor Saturday night at Villanova, beating the Icers, 6-3.

The Wildcats pulled ahead Saturday with a power play goal at 16 minutes into the first period. They added a short-handed goal at 4:44 into the second period. Another Wildcat goal 72 seconds later increased their lead to 3-0.

Forward Chris Cervellero converted on a power play to end the Icers' scoring drought, only to have Villanova respond with a goal with 21 seconds left in the second period. Goals by forward Andy McLaughlin and Cervellero brought the Icers to within 4-3, but the Wildcats scored two more goals to insure the win.

"They played outstanding," Icer defenseman Mike Messner said. "Friday night, we got on their goalie early, and the crowd got behind us, and it helped put their goalie away. Whereas, (on Saturday) he made the key saves early, and we didn't have the crowd to get on him."

Friday's game was something completely different. Villanova began the scoring with a power-play goal at 7:32 in the first period. The Icers answered with two goals -- McLaughlin at 13:47 and Messner at 14:34.

Messner converted a power play at 16:46 to make the score 3-1. Wildcat defenseman Bill Fortescue responded with another power-play goal 58 seconds into the second period, only to have McLaughlin score another power-play goal at 4:18. John O'Connor scored 16 seconds later, and forward Ross Cowan scored on another power play 59 seconds after that, sending Villanova reeling.

The best, however, was yet to come. Forward Midge Hutchinson, who had only eight season penalty minutes prior to the weekend, received a game misconduct for spearing.

"It . . . (was) a judgement call on the referee's part," Coach Joe Battista said. "Midge claims he hit the guy with his shoulder, but the referee, from his vantage point, all he saw was . . . (it) looked like he hit him with the stick."

Villanova had a five-minute power play -- but they wouldn't be the ones doing the scoring.

Forward Ben Bouma broke away with the puck, where he was met by a Wildcat defenseman. Bouma "passed" the puck through the defenseman's legs, skated around him, "received" the puck and shot it past Wildcat goalie Jimmy Clark for the short-handed goal. Icers, 7-2.

After that goal at 13:03, Villanova coach Bruce Craig sent John Gaellegro in for Clark. Two minutes and two seconds later, forward Mike Cardonick scored to extend Penn State's lead to 8-2. Villanova managed another goal at 16:49, but by this point the game was decided. Defenseman Geoff Martha scored at 1:33 into the third period to finish the scoring.

Messner scored two goals and made three assists on Friday.

"I'm real happy with the game Mike Messner played," Battista said. "The offense was super, he played super on defense, too . . . their best player, that (Bob) Ward, came down on a one-on-one, and he spit him right up."

Goalie Eric Zinczenko also turned in a good performance.

"Zinc made some awfully nice saves, especially on the penalty kills," Battista said. "That one glove save he made is as nice a glove save as you'll see."

McLaughlin scored two goals and made two assists. Cervellero also played well, with four assists.

"He got himself out of my doghouse by playing a good hockey game -- let's say that," Battista said.

Notes: Defenseman Matt Hoffman is questionable for the Icers' game against Niagara next weekend . . . The Icers' games against Niagara Feb. 16 and 17 will be their last home games for the year.