Upset bug biting ACHA’s top teams

By KEVIN BRICKER
Collegian Staff Writer

The Penn State men's ice hockey team knew it was fortunate when it departed Arizona with three wins despite a hobbled and ill roster.

It was even more fortunate than the teams trying to scrape their way to the top of the American Collegiate Hockey Association poll.

Every team in the ACHA top five suffered at least one loss during the semester break except No. 1 Penn State.

No. 2 Iowa State traveled to No. 9 Eastern Michigan and lost 7-6 in overtime. No. 3 Michigan-Dearborn, the only team to defeat Penn State this season, dropped a 5-4 decision to No. 11 West Virginia following its 7-3 triumph against the Mountaineers the previous day.

"Iowa State had to go to Eastern Michigan," Icers' coach Joe Battista said, "which is never an easy place to play."

Nor an easy team to play.

The Icers bullied and clawed their way to a pair of two-goal victories against the Eagles last month at the Ice Pavilion at Greenberg Sports Complex.

In a stunning upset, Wisconsin-Whitewater knocked off No. 4 Western Michigan 7-5 one day after it was smoked by the Stallions, 9-3.

"Wisconsin-Whitewater is not a very good hockey team," Battista said. "How that happened is beyond me."

The Icers took care of the final top-five squad -- Arizona.

"We feel fortunate we didn't drop a game," senior forward Joe Bassett said.

But don't expect Penn State to do any scoreboard watching. It's more worried about accomplishing its tasks on the ice and letting the ACHA poll, which will not come out again until Jan. 22, take care of itself.

"It affects the rankings somewhat, but as long as we win it doesn't concern us," Bassett said.

‘Cats back

After starting the season with a lousy 0-8 record, Ohio, last year's ACHA runner-up, has stormed back.

Since dropping two games at Happy Valley in October, the No. 10 Bobcats have gone 8-1-2 and have not lost since falling to Western Michigan 4-2 on Nov. 6.

"They got off to a slow start but all of a sudden, there they are," Battista said.

The Bobcats finished their toughest road stretch, unlike Penn State which must go to Eastern Michigan, Michigan-Dearborn and conclude its road schedule at Ohio.

"If you look at our schedule," Battista said, "we don't have an easy game the rest of the year. Ohio is playing the rest of their tough games at home."