The Lady Icers tasted victory twice last weekend as they defeated Chatham College 6-4 Saturday, and the University of Pittsburgh 3-1 Sunday.

Penn State came into the Chatham game well prepared. The Lady Icers knew Chatham would come at them with speed and they defended well against that.

"They were fast and they were strong," Penn State coach Billie Willits said. "We kept our speed up, we played good defense. We used a breakout the way we had planned."

Penn State scored first at 3:40 of the first period. Chatham came back with a goal to tie it up, but the Lady Icers fought back to end the period with a one-goal lead.

Two goals by each team in the second period sent the teams into the third period with a score of 4-3. Penn State shot two more past Chatham, while Chatham only put one past the Lady Icers to have Penn State win the game by two goals.

Jeannine Kausch, who was scheduled to be in goal for the Lady Icers, came late to the game due to snow. She played the second period and most of the third before being taken out with a hamstring injury with 30 seconds left in the third.

Alex McVicker, newcomer to the team, filled in for Kausch's forward position while Kausch was in goal.

McVicker has been on the Penn State team for just two weeks, but has played ice hockey for a number of years. She played for five years in Virginia Beach with the Hampton Roads Junior Admirals, an all-male team.

"It made me a lot better player," McVicker said. "Guys are a lot more physical. It made me stand up for myself. I think I am a lot better for playing with them."

McVicker's new teammates were impressed with her play in her first games as a Lady Icer.

"She did an excellent job for her first game," Kausch said. "I was very impressed."

McVicker said she felt confident in her play and her new team.

"I've only been here two weeks and everybody has accepted me pretty well," she said.

Not only did the Lady Icers accept a new teammate, they also accepted another victory from Pittsburgh, who they defeated last year in the Mid-Atlantic Women's Collegiate Hockey Association championship game.

"The Pitt team was as physical as we had expected," Willits said. "They're chippy players. They are strong skaters."

Pittsburgh attempted to match lines with the Lady Icers, but Willits decided to change the lines up to adjust the strategy.

Penn State started off the scoring, only to have the Ice Panthers to retaliate with a goal of their own. Penn State would score two more times to win the game.

The Lady Icers will play the University of Pittsburgh again on Friday at home.

"The teams have in a very quick order developed a rivalry," Willits said.

Kate Specchio agreed that the teams were excited to play each other.

"We love playing Pitt," Specchio said. "They are always an aggressive team."

Many of the Lady Icers are from Pittsburgh and have played on teams with some of the Ice Panthers before.

"It's always fun to play against people you know," Specchio added.

The Lady Icers are hoping to have a huge crowd for their home games this weekend. The players are very eager for the games.

"I know some of the players are writing on their sticks and on their helmets," Kausch said. "Everyone is really pumped."