The Penn State ACHA Division I Icers stormed into winter break as the No. 2 team in the nation, compiling an 18-3-0 record in the first half of the season while dropping only one game to an ACHA opponent.

Though the numbers are impressive, Penn State head coach Scott Balboni views the current part of the year as a "second season" and is not here to talk about the past.

"It was good for us to have a good first semester from the standpoint that we are a young team and need to continue to grow and get better," Balboni said. "But like I always said, the second semester is the full season here. These games for some odd reason seem to count more in the rankings, and these games are more important for the national tournament."

Penn State's first game of 2007, a shootout loss to West Chester, is a warning sign of what can happen when a team underestimates its opponents or has an off night. Balboni has called out his team on various occasions for playing down to other teams, but last week's game was the first time it resulted in a loss.

"I think some of the guys looked in the mirror and said that if we want to win at nationals, we can't afford to drop games that we should win. There's a difference between a loss and getting beat and I think that game we lost," Balboni said.

As good as the Icers were from September to December, they need to maintain momentum and be in peak condition for the ACHA National Tournament, which looms less than two months away.

Though Penn State struggled at times against unranked and unheralded teams, its record in big games has been impressive. The Icers swept No. 5 Ohio at home and No. 4 Rhode Island on the road earlier in the season. Then, they split a home series with St. Clair of the Ontario Hockey Association in December.

The Icers will see all three teams again in 2007 in games that will have implications in the rankings.

"We're really looking forward to Rhode Island and Ohio, especially when Rhode Island comes here," goaltender Nick Signet said. "But we don't want to look too far ahead."

Signet is one of the main reasons for the Icers' success so far. After stepping in for senior Chris Matteo early in the season, he has posted a 1.81 goals against average and has taken over the starting role. Signet credits the defense with keeping the puck away from him as much as possible.

On the offensive side, Penn State was led by forward Luke DeLorenzo, who tallied 27 points. However, it will be without his services, as well as three of the top five scorers, until the conclusion of the World University Games in Italy.

Balboni isn't concerned about missing players and neither is the rest of the team. According to Signet, Penn State has "worked harder than any other team." Their depth is also among the best in the ACHA. And beginning on Feb. 28, they have the opportunity to make their dream of a championship a reality.