However, Bates played a solid game against No. 15 Nichols College and Penn State coach Michael Brinton feels it will provide his team with a challenge.
"Its gonna be a lot tougher team we're playing against," he said. "Plus, it's in the league, and all league games are tough."
With the bulk of their league schedule out of the way, wins this weekend could take some pressure off the team next semester, when it will be without third-leading scorer and assistant captain Chelsea Sacks, who will be studying abroad.
"If they win this game, it's gonna make it a lot easier road," Brinton said.
"I've shown them that you've got four games until break and if you put your heart out in these four games, everything from there, from January on should be downhill."
Injuries continue to affect the Lady Icers.
Lauren Powers and Caitlyn Sawyer are both out for the rest of the semester, while leading scorer Alicia Lepore and Esther Gomez have been bothered by illness the past few days. Lepore has been battling knee problems as well.
Though both will play this weekend, Brinton does not expect either to be at full strength.
The team has won five of its last six contests, including three straight, albeit against weaker competition. On Nov. 18, the Lady Icers beat Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 16-0. The next day they beat No. 11 Delaware on the road, 17-2.
Against IUP, every Lady Icer scored a goal and goalie Melanie Kleinmann recorded her first shutout of the season. Every player recorded a point against Delaware, with Lepore and Jess Waldron leading the way with 10 points each, including six and five goals, respectively.
The convincing win over Delaware is misleading, however, as Delaware was forced to use its backup goalie, and its No. 11 ranking has been inflated by a weak schedule.
However, Brinton was still pleased with his team's performance and is confident heading into the weekend.
"When you beat teams like that, it's kind of hard to say anything bad," he said.
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