Hopes of a national tournament berth suddenly became a little more realistic as the Lady Icers beat California University of Pennsylvania Friday night in Bethel Park, 7-4.

Alicia Lepore rang up a hat trick for the Lady Icers and freshman forward Michelle Clark tallied two goals as Penn State evened and ended the season series with the Vulcans at a game apiece.

"The last time we met they beat us 5-1, so this felt pretty good for the ladies," head coach Mo Stroemel said in an e-mail following the game.

"We played very well, doing things we've never done before. We played with a lot of heart, attacked the puck hard, went to the net hard."

Penn State went into the locker rooms after the first 20 minutes down 2-1, but four second period goals all but sealed the victory for the Lady Icers.

The seven goal explosion during Friday's contest almost matched the Lady Icers' total of eight from the previous nine games.

The win also gave the Lady Icers their fourth of the season and now gives the ACHA voters something to mull over when the final rankings come out in two weeks, with the Lady Icers currently sitting just one spot out the rankings for postseason play.