The Robert Morris (Pa.) Colonials gave Penn State all that they could handle in the first round of the ACHA National Tournament yesterday -- and much more.

On a day that saw multiple heavy favorites toppled by lower seeds, the No. 1 Penn State ACHA Division I Icers almost fell victim to the No. 16 Colonials, barely surviving their opening game with a 2-1 overtime victory.

No. 2 Ohio was not so fortunate. The Bobcats found themselves in the same situation as the Icers, playing in an unexpectedly competitive game against No. 15 Michigan-Dearborn. Ohio didn't escape with a win, though, and was sent packing much earlier than expected after a 3-2 overtime loss.

With an arch-rival and one of their toughest opponents eliminated from the tournament, the Icers took to the ice hoping not to make the same mistake.

"We didn't want that to happen to us," Icers goalie Nick Signet said. "We had heard about all the close games earlier in the day so we didn't want to go through that."

They almost did.

The Colonials stood tall in the face of the Icers' offensive attack and parried every blow that Penn State tried to deliver. As the overtime period wore on, Robert Morris goalie Jon Hoffmann kept his team alive with save after save.

He could only hang on for so long, though. Midway through the extra period, with the Icers' season hanging in the balance, forward Lukas DeLorenzo deflected a shot that found the back of the net for the game-winner.

The Icers could finally exhale.

"It was a relief, but we felt excitement, too," DeLorenzo said.

The game began well for Penn State. After controlling the pace at the outset of play, forward Matt Schwartz put the Icers up 1-0 with a power play goal less than seven minutes into the game.

But the Icers could not build their lead, being frustrated by Hoffmann at every turn. Penn State generated some quality scoring opportunities but couldn't capitalize. It entered the third period clinging to a one-goal advantage and facing a Robert Morris team with a newfound energy."

"They played with a sense of urgency, and sometimes that's all it takes," DeLorenzo said.

Less than two minutes into the third period, Colonials defenseman Brian Garvey put the puck past Signet, tying the game. Through the rest of regulation, Robert Morris matched Penn State shot-for-shot, with both teams missing out on several chances to seal the win.

When DeLorenzo finally put the Colonials away for good, it capped off a game that the Icers admitted was not pretty. Still, they survive to play another day.

"It wasn't the way we wanted to win, but it was still a win," Signet said.

Penn State will face No. 8 seeded Liberty, who routed No. 9 Kent State, tonight at 7 in a quarterfinal matchup. The winner will advance to Saturday's semi-final round.

Youngstown, Ohio: Upset City

Ohio was not the only team to make an early exit at the tournament. No. 5 Oklahoma was upset by No. 12 Delaware, 2-1, and No. 7 Lindenwood fell to No. 10 Oakland, 5-4.

No. 4 Rhode Island had a close call against No. 13 West Virginia, hanging on to earn a 5-3 victory.

Balboni said that this was the deepest tournament field he's ever seen, and it is certainly playing out that way. Some familiar faces will be spectators for the second round.