As the lone senior on the Penn State women's club hockey team, Lauren Johnston has become a role model for her young teammates. But had fate taken a different course, she might have never stepped foot on the ice as a Lady Icer.

Johnston's collegiate hockey career didn't begin in Happy Valley, but rather more than 400 miles north with the Catamounts at the University of Vermont. As a freshman in 2002, she had hopes of turning around a program that only had seven competitive seasons under its belt and was coming off a dismal 1-28-1 campaign the year before.

But poor team morale and a lack of chemistry tarnished those plans for success.

"There was no team dynamic. It was a really difficult situation," Johnston explained.

"Maybe it was because I had a different background from the rest of the girls. I am not sure ... but it was inappropriate how the freshmen were treated on that team."

After a semester at Vermont, Lauren made the choice to transfer back to her home state. The West Chester native gladly traded in her green-and-gold uniform for the trademark blue and white of Penn State, deciding to play for the Lady Icers.

What was tension and uncertainty with the Catamounts soon became optimism and happiness with her new teammates.

"There is just something about Penn State," Johnston said. "There is great chemistry, and I am thrilled to be here."

In her first season with the Lady Icers, Johnston recorded an astounding 39 points in 31 games, including 21 goals and 18 assists. Her performance not only earned her recognition as the team's Most Valuable Player for the 2003-04 season, but also helped lead her team to the ECWHL Frozen Four and a No. 7 national ranking.

Next season, however, wasn't as positive. Despite another trip to the Frozen Four and being named the Player's Player by her teammates, Johnston only played in 17 games and tallied just seven points.

This season, it appears that Johnston has returned to old form. With a goal and six assists in five games, the assistant captain has Penn State primed for another postseason run.

But it wasn't her play that concerned her as the year began.

As the only senior on a team consisting predominantly of freshman and sophomores, Johnston was wondering how her team was going to create that true feeling of chemistry that is so crucial to success.

"I thought it was going to be difficult to bring back the team unity we had for the past couple years," Johnston said. "We were in a situation, this year, where everybody was playing on new lines with new people."

But what could have been dissention became friendship as the players bonded unlike any other team of which head coach Michael Brinton has been a part.

"They are always together, whether they are shopping downtown or at practice. They like being with each other off the ice, and they feed off each other on the ice," Brinton said earlier this season.

Regardless of the reason for the bonding, Johnston's influence on her teammates cannot be denied. She has rallied her peers and united them with one common goal in mind: winning.

"She is a good role model," sophomore goalie Gena Goldbaum said. "She shows you that you can successfully balance school and sports. She brings this team together with her focus and determination."

"On the ice, she is an awesome player," freshman forward Jessica Waldron added. "Lauren motivates people in games, as well as in practice. She is really serious in the locker room and gets everyone focused during the game."

Instead of shying away from her leadership role, Johnston has embraced it as she hopes to close out her college career in style.

"I always try to lead by example. I put 110 percent into everything I do, especially on the ice and in life," Johnston said. "There is no point in doing it if you're not doing it the best you can."