It was only fitting that after an apparent goal by defenseman Brendan Martin was waved off in the second period Friday night, the famous, or infamous, words of Homer Simpson echoed through the Greenberg Ice Pavilion.

D'oh.

That's how most of the night went for the Penn State ACHA Div. I Icers (20-0-0), who played with little fervor on the last weekend before the Christmas break without several key players against a team who lost to lowly Erie Community College two weekends ago.

"We definitely had a lack of intensity. We had a lack of respect for them," said forward Justin DePretis after his team's lackluster 5-1 win over No. 20 Niagara. "After Eastern Michigan was cancelled we kind of felt like it was a cakewalk and . . . we thought we were going to beat them 15-0."

The Icers came closer to their goal on Saturday, scoring five goals in the first period on their way to a cozy 9-1 win, capping a remarkable start to the season and sending the Icers into the holiday season with little to complain about.

Except for Friday that is.

"We wanted to come out with a better start and we did, we got our mission accomplished," Penn State Icers coach Joe Battista said. "I think everybody wanted to show that yesterday we weren't as sharp as we needed to be."

It was an inauspicious start on Friday that had the Icers fuming and the upstart Purple Eagles believing in their chances. The Icers led only 2-0 on goals by junior Kevin Jaeger and sophomore Teague Willits-Kelly heading into the third period, and needed two power play goals 24 seconds apart, capped by sophomore Luke Walker's goal at 16:54, to pull away from Niagara (10-6-1).

Despite the fact that the Icers outshot Niagara 45-21, the Purple Eagles had numerous odd-man rushes and a breakaway that was turned away by junior goalie Scott Blackman, who continues to make his case to be the No. 1 goalie for the Icers.

"That was just stubbornness because we were in a no pinch forecheck," Battista said of Niagara's chances. "Again, lack of respect, guys thinking that they're going to go get points and score goals instead of doing their job."

"I feel bad for Scott Blackman. He deserved a shutout."

However, all was forgotten the next day as the Icers got the bad taste out of their mouths with a strong start and another solid game in net.

Between the pipes this time was a combined effort from freshman Chris Matteo and senior Brian Gratz.

And the offense which saw the puck slide off their stick and passes go array on Friday was clicking on Saturday, backed by two goals from junior Joe Maglaque and Jaeger, and three assists each from senior Glenn Zuck and junior Mike Carrano.

Zuck, who also added a goal in each game, moved into fourth place on the all-time points list, passing Alon Eizenman, who had 260 points.

"Pretty exciting," Zuck said of the feat. "Again, I'm more concerned with how the team is doing and whether or not we're winning."

With finals, injuries and Christmas gifts to take care over the next couple of weeks, the Icers were satisfied to come out of the weekend with their record unblemished.

"We pulled together and came out with two wins," Zuck said.

Even Homer Simpson can't say anything about that.