BENSENVILLE, Ill. -- It was supposed to be a rebuilding year.

Last September, a whopping 12 players skated onto the ice as rookies -- replacing a dozen veterans who were lost during the off-season.

It wasn't easy. But, somehow, those rookies helped the Icers skate off last weekend as national runners-up.

"They played like veterans, they really did," Battista said. "It was a great pleasure watching them develop."

In the beginning, it was believed the freshmen would only hamper the Penn State ACHA Division I Icers. In the end, though, it was one of the reasons Penn State made it so far.

The rookies accounted for seven of the Icers' 16 goals during the four-day tournament -- including a game-winner from forward Dave Arcobello.

Arcobello's goal was one of the tournament's turning points. With 75 seconds remaining in the semifinal, Arcobello went top shelf against Ohio to break an emotional 1-1 tie and advance Penn State to the national championship game.

Battista even embraced assistant coach Mo Stroemel after the alarm sounded.

"He's been so snakebit all season because he hasn't been able to score," Battista said. "And I said, 'Davey, you're gonna score 'em when we need you most.'

"This is his second goal of the tournament, and obviously the biggest one."

Arcobello, the sweat pouring off his face, played down his significance in the deciding score and said, "To put all the glory or honor on one person is not right.

"It's just another day at work," he added with a half-smile.

Arcobello wasn't the only rookie to contribute, though.

Scanning the locker room, red-headed freshman defender Keith Jordan -- one of the Rookie of the Year favorites -- easily stuck out.

While his team competed against tournament host Robert Morris the night before, Jordan was in the emergency room.

"I was really pissed off that I didn't play yesterday, but it felt really good to get on the ice," he said, pausing between coughs.

Jordan came down with a viral infection and couldn't even walk, according to Battista. Jordan wound up playing sick the entire four-day stretch.

The State College native was hooked up to an IV the evening before -- and was also forced to take an ample amount of Motrin, Pedialite, Gatorade and vitamins.

Still, the soft-spoken rookie played.

"What a difference it made having Keith Jordan back in the lineup -- even if he's not 100 percent," Battista said.

Michael McMullen also finished with a pair of goals, including the game-tying goal against Ohio. And Paul Zodtner recorded a score after playing with the Icers' red line, opposite seniors Kevin Jaeger and Mike Carrano, a majority of the time.

"They all grew up -- Zodtner, Arcobello, Jordan, McMullen," Battista said. "A lot of these guys, they're gonna be the nucleus of our team for a long time to come.

"And I'd like to think they're all going to wanna get back here right away."