Matt Kirstein has never cut a corner in his life.

He's never cut them as a student, or in the job market, and that effort helped him line up a job on Wall Street after graduation.

It was only a matter of time before that type of effort paid off on the hockey rink.

Kirstein, the senior forward who is coming off a junior campaign where he tallied 17 goals, 25 assists and a plus/minus rating of 30, didn't take long to pick up where he left off last season.

The forward logged a goal and two assists in Saturday's 15-3 rout of Towson, just a night after the Penn State Icers escaped with a 4-3 overtime victory over the same Towson team in a lackluster showing.

After being named a captain just a week earlier, Kirstein felt an obligation to bring a spark he thought the team was lacking the night before. That effort was not lost on his coach.

"Obviously, Mattie is one of our formal leaders, he's one of our vocal leaders so we look to him to pick up the intensity, pick up the effort and obviously a goal and a couple of assists helped out in the win," Icers coach Scott Balboni said. "But I thought he had a lot more intensity, a lot more focus."

Kirstein's vocal leadership style is one the team blends with their other two captains, John Conte and Steve Thurston.

Junior forward Tim O'Brien said Conte is more of a quiet leader while Thurston represents the experienced leader.

However, it's Kirstein's vocal nature that shines during practices and games.

"He'll be the guy who takes one of the younger guys aside and talks to them and talks on the bench to keep guys going," O'Brien said. "He's a real good vocal leader, and we need a guy like him."

Being one of those senior leaders, combined with the fact the Icers lost 13 seniors after last season and his big season last year, the forward admits he feels there are certain expectations of him this year, but nothing he feels he can't handle.

Perhaps dampening those expectations was a groin injury the senior suffered during the preseason. The injury has nagged Kirstein during this early part of the season, even causing him to miss practice as recently as Monday.

While the injury won't cause him to miss any more practice time or any games, he admitted it has held him back.

"I think from a conditioning standpoint it slowed me a bit," Kirstein said. "I haven't been able to be on the ice as much so I think my conditioning isn't exactly what I'd like it to be. I think from a skill standpoint it hurts a little big because you're out on the ice, but not as much."

With Kirstein continuing to get himself healthy, the Icers know they will need the senior and his increased production if they are to achieve their goals this season.

"Getting him going for this season is just as important for anyone, a new guy or an older guy," O'Brien said.

"It means a lot more whenever they see the older guys still playing with a lot of heart and dedication and working hard on and off the ice to get where he is right now."