YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Penn State Icers goalie Chris Matteo spent the final seconds of his collegiate hockey career crouched dejectedly in front of his net.

When the final horn proclaimed Oakland the 2007 ACHA Division I National Champion, their bench erupted, with sticks, gloves and helmets being heaved skyward.

From the Penn State bench came only heavy hearts and heads hung low, as the Icers tried to console Matteo, the team's lone senior and emotional leader.

"Every guy wanted him to get that first place more than anything in the world," Icers forward Paul Zodtner said. "And the fact that he's been second place for four years doesn't tell the story."

Matteo's distinguished career as Penn State's goaltender was never truly complete. For four years he worked to capture a national title, but as Oakland forward Will McMahon almost single-handedly turned a tie game into a Golden Grizzlies rout, Matteo watched his final chance at glory fall through his hands.

"A lot of guys expressed that they wanted to send me out with a victory," Matteo said. "But you can't have that sometimes. You just have to learn from it and move on."

Despite having never won a championship, Matteo doesn't view his time with Penn State as a disappointment. To him, it was more than just hockey, and the experiences he had on and off the ice will last a lifetime.

"This is a life lesson," he said. "I'm looking around the locker room and seeing these guys crying and upset about it, but it's the players that count -- the team in the locker room. I'll never forget that."

Those players were upset for themselves, but especially upset for Matteo. They were openly playing for him. During a close overtime win over Robert Morris in the first round of the tournament, the Icers told Matteo that they didn't want it to be his last game.

Icers forward Jaime Zimmel was visibly distraught when talking about Matteo after the game. He said that "leadership" was the only word that could sufficiently define the Icers goalie.

"He didn't wear a letter, but he was our captain. He poured his heart and soul into this team," Zimmel said.

As Matteo exited the locker room for the final time after the game, he was greeted by thunderous applause from the Penn State fans in attendance. He may have never gotten a chance to hoist the Murdoch Cup, but he had won the affection of the Icers faithful.

"These four years have been great here," Matteo said. "I met my best friends for life. It's a great group of guys, and it's definitely criminal, because you've never met a better group of guys that should be champions."