The No. 15 Penn State Lady Icers split a back and forth two game series against the No. 6 UMass this weekend at the Penn State Ice Pavillion.

In the first game on Saturday night, the Lady Icers (5-6, 3-3 ECWHL) won a tight game, 4-2.

Freshman forward Alicia Lepore scored just over a minute into the third period to give the Lady Icers the lead, and was the eventual game-winning goal.

Penn State started off strong behind the superb goaltending of junior Gena Goldbaum to keep the game scoreless at the first intermission.

The game broke open in the second period when freshman defenseman Ceili Stahl scored four and a half minutes in to give Penn State a 1-0 lead.

UMass came right back, scoring shorthanded just over two minutes later to tie the game.

With five minutes left in the period, Penn State reclaimed the lead on a power play goal by sophomore forward Jessica Waldron.

The Minutewomen wasted no time catching up by tying the game 49 seconds later.

Penn State sealed the deal on an empty net goal by Waldron with just seconds left in the game.

"They showed a lot of drive and desire to do everything to win that game," Penn State coach Michael Brinton said.

The second yesterday morning was all about the Minutewomen.

UMass jumped to an early lead, and Penn State never recovered, en route to a 5-1 victory with the help of two goals by Angela Rufo.

"I think it [Saturday's game] was the motivation we needed," UMass coach Chris Crobb said.

The Minutewomen scored just 1:22 into the first period to take the quick lead.

Things were looking up for the Lady Icers when Lepore tied the game five minutes later. After that, things were not so bright for Penn State.

UMass amassed four unanswered goals while the Lady Icers seemed to play tired and without much confidence.

Not even Goldbaum, who had 47 saves in Saturday's game, was a match against a clicking UMass attack.

"They didn't want to give any extra effort," Brinton said. "They didn't want it today. Not like last night."

The Lady Icers' next game is this Sunday at 10:45 a.m. against Virginia at the Ice Pavillion.