It isn't common for a team to play better on the road than at home. Tell that to the Penn State Lady Icers team. With an impressive 6-3 record on the opposition's home ice this season, the Lady Icers have used away games to make big statements.

This weekend was no different as the No. 12 Lady Icers (10-9, 4-6 ECWHL) and the Bates College Bobcats split a two-game series at the Underhill Arena in Lewiston, Maine. The little-known Bobcats (4-4, 3-3) won the series opener on Friday night, 5-1, but fell to a resurgent Penn State squad on Saturday afternoon, 4-3.

Although the outcome of the Lady Icers' road trip may seem less than stellar, how they did it was nothing short of amazing. Penn State was unable to dress five players due to injury and sickness for the weekend series, leaving the squad with its back against the wall.

Forwards Lauren Johnston (foot), Megan Hayden (asthma), Esther Gomez, Chelsea Sacks (flu) and goaltender Genna Goldbaum (leg) remained in Happy Valley while their teammates were 600 miles away, fighting for their postseason lives.

The loss of players left the Lady Icers with only eight skaters and one goaltender, a daunting task for the Penn State coaching staff.

"We couldn't make a mistake," Lady Icers coach Michael Brinton said. "We needed to play well and take our chances when they were present, but we couldn't make a mistake or it would cost us."

Despite the obvious disadvantage, Penn State scored first in the series opener on Friday night. Forward Jessica Waldron recorded her 32nd goal of the season and gave her team an early 1-0 lead.

In fact, much to both teams' surprise, Penn State outplayed Bates throughout the entire first period and it appeared as if the Lady Icers were going to maintain their lead going into the second. But with one second remaining on the clock, Bobcat forward Katherine Nickerson scored on a shot from the point. The goal tied the score at 1-1 and set the tone for the rest of the game.

"It was a Hail Mary goal from the blue line that just crippled us and we never recovered," Brinton said.

Bates added three goals in the second period and another in the third, including two more from Nickerson, on its way to victory. The win moved the Bobcats into fourth place in the ECWHL, knocking Penn State out of the playoffs and into fifth.

On Saturday, the game started much like the previous one as Jessica Waldron and Katherine Nickerson traded goals in the first period. This time, however, Penn State was well-rested and came out flying in the second period with three goals, two from Waldron and one from captain Ashleigh Kinder, in the first nine minutes. Bates cut into the lead with another goal from Nickerson and trailed, 4-2, at intermission.

Fatigue started to show for the shorthanded Lady Icers as the Bobcats trimmed the score to 4-3 with over 11 minutes remaining in the third. Despite being exhausted, the Penn State defense managed to play well as the clock slowly ticked away.

Then, with two minutes remaining, Lady Icer defense woman Dana Voelker was sent to the penalty box for hooking. Waldron joined her teammate just 36 seconds later for illegal body contact, putting her team at a two-man disadvantage. Bates head coach Roger Lachapelle removed goaltender Renee Dyer at the same time, thus giving the Bobcats a 6-3 advantage with 1:29 remaining.

Regardless of being outnumbered, the Lady Icers never allowed a great scoring opportunity in the waning seconds and held on for an emotional, hard-fought victory.

"I am so proud of these girls, they played great all weekend and I could not have asked for more," Brinton said. "They did what they needed to do and played with their backs against the wall. I am just really, really proud of them."