Some said it was to be a year of rebuilding. But someone forgot to tell the Icers.

No. 3 Penn State (19-7) clinched first place in the ACHL yesterday on the strength of its 7-3 win at No. 19 West Chester (12-9). The win was the team's seventh-consecutive triumph, but it did not come without a fight. The Icers survived a sluggish start to seize a 2-1 lead at the first intermission.

"We came out flat, and we may have taken them a little bit lightly," Coach Joe Battista said. "But I give West Chester lots of credit. They were on a winning streak and they came into this game ready to play."

West Chester had just extended its unbeaten streak to six games with a weekend victory over Towson State. The Golden Rams were tenacious, tying the score at 2-2 in the second period. The score stayed that way until defenseman Larry O'Byrne gave his team the lead for good.

"We had our backs to the wall for a while in the second period," Battista said. "But we didn't collapse, and then we were able to come back and get the job done."

Penn State took a 4-2 lead into the third period, and finally put the game away. The Icers scored three times in the third, and West Chester never got closer than 5-3. O'Byrne finished the night with two goals and one assist, and forwards Cliff Graziano and Rob Keegan each had three points. Defenseman Mark Cervellero had two goals and one assist and was glad to keep the winning streak alive.

"It was good to get the win and clinch first place in the league," Cervellero said. "We have the momentum going our way now, and this win helps solidify us in the No. 3 spot for nationals."

Goalkeeper Dennis Magulick played the entire game for Penn State and stopped 24 of 27 shots. Magulick has won three games in a row and improved his record to 7-4. West Chester goaltender Ken Lawless made 42 saves in a losing effort.

Penn State continued its dominance over West Chester in a series that dates back to the 1972-73 season. The Icers improved to 26-3-1 against the Golden Rams.

Icer forward Brad Russell made a bit of history, as his two assists in the game tied him for tenth place on Penn State's all-time scoring list.