Last year the No. 2 Penn State ACHA Division I Icers allowed lower-ranked opponents to keep the score close late into games -- a stark contrast to last night.

The Icers (25-1-4) dominated No. 18 Washington and Jefferson 10-3 last night at the Greenberg Ice Pavilion, due in large part to a 5-0 lead at the end of the first period.

After losing games to less talented teams last season, the Icers have made it a priority to come out strong every game.

"It's been the thing we've worked on hardest this year, because we were poor against lower-ranked teams last season," Penn State coach Scott Balboni said. "We weren't mentally prepared last year, but this year we have been beating the teams we should, the way we should."

This was proven last night as the Icers scored five goals in the first period and held Washington and Jefferson (19-10-1) to only four shots.

Freshman sensation Tim O'Brien scored his first of two goals on a power play to spark Penn State. The Icers fired 22 first period shots and ran Presidents' goaltender John Mioduszewski out after three goals in seven-and-a-half minutes.

Despite a strong start, the Icers were outshot in the second period, 16-11, and the Presidents got within three goals before Penn State pulled away.

Washington and Jefferson coach John Harford said his team was caught off guard by Penn State's speed early, but was able to adjust and come out hard in the second and third periods.

The Icers were led by junior forward Luke DeLorenzo's three-goal, two-assist night and in net by freshman John Jay's 28 saves. Jay picked up his second collegiate victory in as many starts.

Despite being in the middle of five games in seven nights, the 10 goals for the Icers was their fourth consecutive game with at least six goals, and matched their highest output of the season.

"Coach is resting a lot of guys and fatigue isn't setting in," Schwartz said. "We've been playing hockey our entire lives and we're all used to playing every day."