Three games and three shutouts later, the Lady Icers can finally rest.

Penn State defeated the University of Buffalo Friday night 5-0. Forwards Grace Eberhardt and Faryn Shapiro scored two goals a piece.

As if five goals were not enough for Penn State, they crushed the University of Rhode Island, 12-0 Saturday. The Lady Icers started off the scoring just nine seconds into the game, with a goal by Kate Specchio.

"We decided we just wanted to go out there and take charge right away," Specchio said. "Our line just started to skate hard and we got a goal right away."

After that first goal, however, the pace of the game slowed down considerably. Penn State was not on its game and played down to the level of Rhode Island.

The team pulled together and picked up the tempo at the end of the first period, scoring two more goals. The second period was even better as Penn State scored three more goals to take the lead by six.

"I think what happened was in the first period we weren't talking enough and the second and third we really started talking and letting each other know where we were," captain Ellen Zajko said. "That helped a lot."

In between periods, Lady Icers coach Billie Willits talked about taking more shots on net and skating to every single puck. She also stressed not backing off when the other team got the puck.

Penn State responded by scoring six goals in the third period. Forward Lauren Shaw scored a hat trick, her first of the season.

"My first of the season," Shaw said. "I had amazing defense behind me and amazing offense in front of me.

Rhode Island was back Sunday for another game of the weekend. Two goals in each of the three periods led the Lady Icers to a 6-0 victory. Willits used this game to move some lines around and put some defensive players in offensive positions.

"I moved the defense up to the fourth line," Willits said. "I did this because I wanted the team to get used to a 40 second rotation. Also, I wanted the defense to have more experience with puck handling. We changed the lines around a little bit because the rhythm on two of the lines was not what I wanted it to be."

Defensively, Willits said that this was probably one of the best games played. Only four shots were taken on goalie Jessica Gurskey.

Willits is having a goalie coach come in tomorrow to work with Gurskey and Jeannine Kausch. She wants them to be in shape and challenged so they are prepared for the upcoming Mid-Atlantic Women's Collegiate Hockey Association championship and also for nationals.

The Lady Icers will be playing against much stronger teams in nationals than they have been up against as of late.

"I'd rather have strong competition, but when we don't have strong competition then you use that experience as best you can," Willits said.

"When you've got a team that isn't as strong as you are, then you use it as a practice session. To win at nationals we have got to have good, strong basics."