If for some reason a company decided to start making sports fortune cookies, one would think that one of the first to be printed would be, "You can't lose if they don't score."

After two shutout victories at the Greenberg Ice Pavilion this weekend against the No. 8 Lindenwood Lions, it's apparent that the No. 4 Penn State ACHA Division I Icers already knew about this philosophy, fortune cookie or not.

The Icers defense -- playing without injured senior Matthew Wallace -- locked down on the Lindenwood offense throughout the weekend, limiting the Lions' quality scoring opportunities on Icers goalies Paul Mammola and Chris Matteo.

Mammola was between the pipes for the Icers during Friday night's 1-0 win, stopping all 32 shots he faced. In Saturday afternoon's 2-0 victory, Matteo made 25 saves to give the Icers (9-4-2) their first back-to-back shutout performance since the 2001 season. The shutout was also Matteo's second of this season.

"Defense got these shutouts," Matteo said after Saturday's game. "For the most part, they kept the shots to the outside. There weren't too many odd-man rushes. Any time that kind of situation occurs, we're going to be in good shape."

With Wallace out of the lineup for both games, Icers head coach Joe Battista called upon several of the team's young defensemen to see more ice time against Lindenwood (7-7-0).

Freshman Craig Brooks, who has been quietly impressing Battista all season, and fellow freshman Scott Dakan were two of those young defenders who successfully contributed to the big weekend.

"A lot of the younger defensemen stepped up being in the lineup. They all did pretty well as a unit," senior defenseman Brendan Martin said. "We all just picked up our game a little bit and I think it showed on the scoreboard."

While the Icers kept Lindenwood scoreless, Lions goalie Grahame Lippert nearly kept Penn State without a goal in Friday's game, carrying his own shutout late into the game until freshman forward Nate Obringer scored a power play goal with 5:47 remaining in the third period.

Saturday's game was very similar to Friday's, with the Icers' top power play unit again scoring the first goal of the day, but this time in the second period instead of the third. Freshman Frank Berry scored off of assists from senior Justin DePretis and sophomore defenseman Keith Jordan.

McMullen would go on to add another goal off a rebound from sophomore Paul Zodtner to put the Icers up 2-0.

"They knew that they weren't getting many quality shots on us. We were playing rock-solid defense so any time we get ahead it kind of breaks their back a little bit," Matteo said.

With McMullen still not at full strength while he recovers from a shoulder injury, Battista decided to shake up the Icers' normal top even-strength line of DeLorenzo, Berry, and McMullen. Friday, DePretis saw time on the top line. Saturday, freshman Steve Peck played alongside DeLorenzo and Berry.

"We have options. It's a good problem to have, but I'd also like to see a little more consistency out of certain guys so that we could count on lines, but that's up to the guys," Battista said.

But defensively, Battista was impressed with all members of the unit during both games.

"The other team can't win with zero. My father taught me that a long time ago," Battista said.