Icers Assistant Coach Ray Lombra knew it would happen. He predicted it moments before it occurred, and when it was over, a vision was fulfilled.

With Penn State and Iowa State deadlocked at four, and under 10 minutes remaining in the game, Lombra had something to say to forward Andrew Strasser.

"I leaned over to him and said, 'Strass, I can feel it. It's time.' And he looked up and said, 'I hope so.' And he didn't score on that shift, but he did on the next one."

The Icers had fought from behind throughout the night, and playing in a playoff game on the Cyclones home ice made the battle more difficult. But when Strasser ripped a vicious slap shot into the lower left-hand corner of the goal, Penn State had completed the 5-4 comeback, and set the tone for the offseason.

"I picked the puck up near the blue line and I shot it toward the net," Strasser said. "Rich Martha was going to the goal, so I was hoping he'd pick up a rebound, but I guess the shot surprised the goalie, because the next thing I knew, it went in."

To score the game winning goal in a playoff game was the culmination of a successful season for the junior. His 13 goals and 25 assists were good for fifth on the team in scoring, and his consistent play was a major reason for the Icers' success.

And although the team has finished its on-ice work for this semester, Strasser and several of his teammates will continue a weight training program to maintain the physical condition necessary to perform when practices begin again in August.

"Andrew is one of our most stable players," defenseman Eddie Kmit said. "He works hard all the time, he never misses any games, and he's the type of guy who will do whatever the coaches ask him to."

In the past, Strasser has been a supporting player on a line whose primary concern was defense. But with people graduating from the teams of 1991 and 1992, his role expanded into that of a key offensive player as well. And scoring the game winner in a contest of this magnitude is a sure sign that he has grown into this role.

"Strass is clearly one of the guys that we're going to have to build around for next season," Lombra said. "And having scored a big goal in a big game gives you a lot of confidence heading into next year."