Penn State forward Bill Downey stripped a Drexel player of the puck just across the blue-line causing the crowd to erupt in eager anticipation of the solid scoring chance to come. Reading the play, defenseman Eric Harbaugh burst up ice, joining Downey on a two-on-one break.
After a perfect behind-the-back pass and a quick shot that squeaked under Drexel goalie Dan Angeline's glove as he dropped into his butterfly position, the No. 1 Penn State ACHA Div. I Icers (12-0) sat on a 5-1 lead over the No. 16 Drexel Dragons (5-6-1).
More shocking than the fact that this goal came from a defensive-minded player suiting up for just his second weekend of play since returning from an injury was the fact that it was shorthanded.
"I know he doesn't get the chance to score many goals," Penn State Icers head coach Joe Battista said. "But to score a shorthanded goal, I think he was amazed."
Penn State defensemen contributing on the offensive end of the ice seemed to be a common theme this weekend as they scored four of the Icers' 15 goals and added six more assists.
The Icers' watched game tape last week and found a weakness in Drexel's defense, making a game plan to exploit it.
"We spent a lot of time on what we call our poise drill where we work the puck down low and get it back up to the point," Battista said. "I think it paid off."
Joe Maglaque stepped up on defense for the Icers, scoring half of the defensemen's points with three goals and two assists in the two games against Drexel. Maglaque took advantage of the Dragon's collapsing defense to fire open shots from the point.
This resulted in two power-play goals and a power-play assist when forward Kevin Jaeger banged in a rebound off of a Maglaque shot.
Harbaugh said Drexel was supposed to be playing a diamond or a one-two-one defense on the power play but instead set up in a box or two-two defense. He said this defensive set up gave the Icers' point player on their umbrella power play unit, a one-two-two offense, many open shot opportunities.
Maglaque used his overpowering wrist shot from the point to score his three goals this weekend. With no Drexel players around him, he was able to set up and pick an open spot in the net to shoot at.
"I shoot with my head up," Maglaque said. "I always keep my head up to see what options are open."
Other defensemen helping out in the offensive zone were junior Chris Rome, with two assists, and both Matt Wallace and Drew Ward who added an assist each.
Even with all of the scoring the forwards provide for the Icers, it never hurts to have the defensemen chipping in.
"I think it gives our forwards more confidence when they get the puck to the defensemen and the defensemen get the puck to the net," Battista said. "It's good team work. A lot of good goals were scored [this weekend]."
