The Penn State Ice Lions were defeated 4-2 by the Pittsburgh Panthers at the Greenberg Sports Complex Saturday night.

The Lions were looking to avenge a loss they suffered earlier in the season at Pittsburgh, but their efforts fell short.

Penn State was on the offensive attack consistently throughout the contest, but they could not regain the rhythm they had just four weeks earlier when they blanked the high powered Red Hawks of Montclair State 4-0.

"We are not as good as we think we are. Pitt out-hustled and out-hit us tonight, and we played like we were just going through the motions," said Ice Lion head coach Mo Stroemel.

The Ice Lion offense dominated the first period as they had 13 shots on goal to Pittsburgh's five, but Panthers goaltender Chris Garman prevented the Lions from taking an early lead by stopping every shot.

Pittsburgh had a breakaway opportunity late in the first period as they chased a loose puck into the Ice Lion zone, but Penn State goaltender David Levine swiftly skated up to make a sliding save which kept the game locked in a tie.

Pittsburgh took the lead less than a minute into the second period when forward Matt Hawryluk scored to put the Panthers up 1-0. Penn State rallied midway through the period when Ice Lion right winger Jake Wolfe scored off an assist from center Ralph Stoehr to tie the game at a goal apiece.

Pitt countered less than two minutes later with another goal to regain the lead 2-1, but Penn State tied the game again as Stoehr swept the puck past the sprawling Pitt goaltender. The period ended in a 2-2 tie.

Pitt opened up the final period with a goal less than a minute into play as Hawryluk scored for the second time to put the Panthers up 3-2. The Ice Lions fought desperately by killing a Pitt power play, but they couldn't produce another goal on offense. Ice Lion goaltender Brian Gratz kept the game within reach by successfully defending a two-on-goal breakaway shot, but the Panthers shelved the Lions with a score late in the period to win the game 4-2.

"It was brutal. We didn't skate well, and I thought we'd play better," Wolfe said. "The Pitt goalie played well tonight. We have to improve our checking and passing."

"We have to win out. We are not thinking about the playoffs, just game by game," said Ice Lion defenseman Joe Corbo.

The Ice Lions fall to 6-8-2 with the loss to Pitt, but they look to improve their record when they travel to Findlay for a doubleheader this weekend.