If it was possible to prepare for the postseason in one game, this was it.

It was a rivalry that finally lived up to expectations.

The ACHA Div. I Icers (19-1-1) hosted No. 5 Iowa State (21-7-3) in the championship game of the 22nd Annual Nittany Lion Invitational Tournament. It proved to be one of the Icers true challenges this year.

"This Iowa State team looks pretty good. They bang a lot and are very physical," center/right wing Neal Price said before the game, anticipating a tough battle..

"I think it is going to be a tough one."

How right he was.

Both teams played a good opening period, which saw the No. 1 Icers take an early 1-0 lead on a goal by forward Kevin Jaeger, assisted by linemates Price and Glenn Zuck.

"Jaeger was on fire," head coach Joe Battista said.

"The best move we made all weekend was putting him on the line with Price and Zuck."

The line struck again 28 seconds into the second as Price put home a rebound for a 2-0 lead.

It appeared the Icers were going to pull away as they usually do, but the Cyclones were not going to fold that easily, they were too good.

The Cyclones capitalized on a rare power play mid-way through the period and cut the Icers lead in half.

As Battista was trying to get his team to shoot the puck more, an unlikely player responded.

Freshman forward Garrett Divins fired a wrist shot, which landed in the back of the net, giving the Icers a 3-1 lead.

"Divins is one of the fastest players on the team," Battista said. "All he did was blow right around the defenseman and ripped a wrist shot. That was a huge goal."

It would turn out to be the game-winning goal.

However, the game got a lot tighter between two teams vying for national supremacy.

The Cyclones once again pulled within a goal in the third.

"When they made it 3-2, I was pretty nervous," tournament MVP Jaeger said.

"We went out and worked hard. I figured we would still win."

And win they did, thanks to their defense holding the Cyclones to just one more shot while they fired a couple more of their own.

Downey scored with just over five minutes to go in the game, off an assist from Mandel, who recorded his 100th career point on the play.

Before he had time to celebrate, Jaeger once again stepped up with a big goal, just 14 seconds later.

This put the icing on the cake and capped a great weekend for the team and for himself and fellow freshman Divins.

"I still feel like a freshman, and the guys often remind me," Jaeger said.

"I think Divins and I are starting to get the feel for the team and are getting more comfortable with the guys."

The Icers' coach was pleased with the weekend.

"I am very proud of the guys," Battista said, while clutching the first-place trophy in his arms. "All of them played their hearts out, it was a total team effort."

It may have been a defining moment for the team.

It may just have given them confidence they need as they enter the final stretch towards nationals.

"We needed a game like this, where we were challenged right to the wire," Battista said.

The Icers passed their challenge and appear to be in great shape to make a run at a three-peat at nationals this February.