As time wound down in the ACHA National Tournament semifinals Tuesday, chanting rang through the ice pavilion at Gilmour Academy.
Flashbulbs popped.
Fans pounded on the glass.
Unfortunately for the No. 2 Penn State ACHA Division I Icers, the celebration was not for them.
"I-L-L, I-N-I!"
The Icers' season ended at the hands of No. 4 Illinois at Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills, Ohio, by a score of 3-0.
Penn State finished the season at 32-8-1.
"The ironic part is I actually thought we played a great hockey game," Penn State coach Scott Balboni said.
"Our goal was to limit their offensive opportunities and see if we could capitalize on some of ours. We only gave up 15 shots on goal for the entire game, which is unbelievable to a team that hadn't lost in two years up until [this season]."
The game was played at a slower pace than Penn State is used to, something Balboni said was planned to keep Illinois out of the Icers' offensive zone. As a result, the Icers held Illinois to single-digit shots in each period, but had just 21 for the game themselves.
Illinois broke a scoreless tie with 1:35 left in the second period as Matt Jennings punched in a rebound. Penn State goalie Nick Signet was forced to leave the net to play a breakaway attempt by Illinois' Jordan Pringle, leaving the backside of the net open for Jennings.
"I thought we played pretty well on five-on-five," Penn State senior defenseman Craig Brooks said. "Siggy played a hell of a game. They only had 15 shots on goal, but the first one was kind of lucky. We did what we had to do, we just couldn't get bounces."
The Illini tacked on their second goal just 41 seconds into the third period.
In a role reversal of the first goal, Jennings assisted on a Pringle score to give Illinois a 2-0 lead.
Johnny Liang iced the game with 14:05 left to play.
The loss signifies the end of 13 Icers' careers.
Although they took off their jerseys for the last time without winning a national title, junior Matt Kirstein said the legacy of the senior class is a bright one.
"I obviously feel for them," Kirstein said.
"I think this is one of the best classes we've ever had here talent-wise. They're 13 guys who have contributed so much to this program -- I just wish we could've won a championship for them."
Brooks said although he hadn't realized the finality of the semifinal game, he appreciated his chance to play with his fellow seniors one last time.
"I don't think it's really hit me yet," Brooks said.
"It took a long time to take my jersey off. I'm really happy I had this group of guys to go out with."
