In the locker room after their loss to NYU back on Nov. 3, the Penn State Div. II Ice Lions decided the fate of their season, and decided they wouldn't let it slip off their sticks.

So far, they've been true to their word.

After a dominating performance against previously undefeated Stony Brook, the Ice Lions followed that effort with a weekend sweep of SECHL newcomer New Hampshire.

The Ice Lions' stifling defense led to a 2-0 shut out of the Wildcats on Saturday. On Friday, Penn State (8-2-1, 6-2-1 SECHL) took a four-goal lead into the third period and was able to hold on for a 7-5 win in the first-ever meeting between the teams.

The Ice Lions led 5-1 after two periods; it was only after senior goalie Dan Koletsky was forced to leave the game that New Hampshire (4-7-2, 2-7-2 SECHL) begin its rally.

The play occurred in the third period when a New Hampshire player slid into the goal and hit Koletsky in the elbow, causing him to lose feeling momentarily in his arm. The Wildcats had been crashing the net and bumping Koletsky prior to the incident. Penn State coach Pat Fung said that while he was not trying to blame anyone, he also understood why it happened.

"They were looking for a way to get back into the game. We also tell our players to crash the net," he said. "We don't tell them to run the goalie, but when the goalie is trying to cover the puck, to crash so that the goalie doesn't see the shot or he is not able to get into his comfort zone."

Fung eventually decided to err on the side of caution and take Koletsky out of the game, but said his goalie told him later that he was fine. Koletsky seemed to show no effects of the injury

Saturday as he and the Ice Lions defense shut down the Wildcats, including a kill on a five-minute major penalty early in the game. Fung also said this weekend was a good test for his team.

"They're [New Hampshire] a good team. They're not high in the standings, but they're probably the best five-win team in the league," Fung said. "They've played a lot of close games, only really been blown out once. They're going to be a really good team in the league in a couple of years."

If the season to date for the Ice Lions has been one of peaks and valleys, and if that November night in Gotham was a low point, then Saturday afternoon in Durham, N.H., was the equivalent of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

They now close the book on the calendar year, with their next games not until Jan. 12 and 13, two non-conference games against UCONN and C.W. Post.

Until then they just have to wait and enjoy the view from the summit.