Despite the beliefs of those who watched the game, the Northeastern Division No. 2 Div. II Penn State Ice Lions did play all three periods, not just the third, in a game where Central Michigan University came out on top, 5-4.

On Saturday, Central Division No. 3 Central Michigan visited the Ice Pavilion in a highly anticipated game between two opposite division powerhouses.

It would have been hard to realize who was the home team during the first two periods as Central Michigan dominated the play.

With 19:28 left in the game, the visitors had a commanding 4-0 lead.

It was then that forward Jordan Hellman scored on the breakaway to make the score 4-1.

This was the chip in the CMU dam, and the water began to flow out for Penn State.

Despite being shut out for the previous 40-plus minutes, the Ice Lions rallied.

They scored three more goals in four minutes to tie the game at four.

Forward Jay Smith scored the tying goal with about 13 minutes left in the game.

"It went five-hole, I put it about four or five off the ice," Smith said.

"I was just trying to get it on net."

The dam was rebuilt however, as Central Michigan's Chuck Laughn scored on the power play with 57 seconds to play.

They held on for the last 57 seconds of the contest, and took the game from the Ice Lions.

During the first period, Central Michigan was turning the heat on Penn State goalie Brian Gratz.

It was only because of Gratz's acrobatic saves that the game remained so close.

"I don't like to be put into that position [to make acrobatic saves]," Gratz said. "They got great scoring chances. I was just trying to keep it close."

During that period, Central Michigan took a whopping total of 20 shots on goal.

In fact, the game shot total for Central Michigan rose to 52, almost double the shots of the Ice Lions.

Ice Lion coach Mo Stroemel tried to get his players reverse that trend throughout the game.

"We were telling them to just shoot the puck," Stroemel said. "Stop trying to make those moves, and just shoot the puck."

It began to work in the third period as Penn State rallied for four goals.

"They [Penn State] scored from outside," Stroemel said.

"We need to learn a lesson, and that is to shoot that puck."

It was a heartbreaking loss for the Ice Lions, who came so close to beating a nationally recognized competitor. However, the team might have another shot at CMU in the ACHA National Tournament.